A fight between middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman is in negotiations and could take place in July, according to Kevin K. This potential matchup raises questions about what opponent Caio Borralho would face if Du Plessis fights Usman instead. The report suggests the UFC is actively working toward this bout, though no official announcement has been made. Details about the specific event or location were not provided in the post.
Middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis may have his next title defense lined up, with a reported bout against Kamaru Usman in negotiations for a possible July booking, according to a report from Kevin K. No official announcement has been made, and details on the specific event or location remain unknown.
Du Plessis, 32, carries a 23-3-0 record and holds both the UFC middleweight title and a place at number seven in the pound-for-pound rankings. The South African out of Team CIT is a high-volume, well-rounded threat, averaging 5.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also contributing 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes. Fighting out of a switch stance, the six-foot-one champion with a 76-inch reach has shown the versatility to cause problems for virtually any style.
Usman, 39, enters as a former welterweight champion now competing at middleweight, ranked eighth at 155 pounds with a career record of 21-4-0. Fighting out of Kill Cliff FC, the American known as The Nigerian Nightmare brings a 76-inch reach of his own and a wrestling-heavy game that has produced 2.82 takedowns per 15 minutes over his career. His striking volume sits at 4.36 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, making him a credible threat in all areas.
The report also raises questions surrounding Caio Borralho, the number-four-ranked middleweight at 18-2-0. The 33-year-old Brazilian southpaw, known for his 56 percent striking accuracy, had been considered a logical contender for a title shot. If Du Plessis moves forward with Usman, Borralho's path to a championship opportunity becomes less clear in the near term.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis defending against a former champion rather than the division's top contenders reshapes the middleweight title picture
- Borralho, ranked fourth, may face a longer wait for his title opportunity depending on how negotiations develop
- A match between two switch-stance fighters with identical 76-inch reaches and high takedown outputs sets up a compelling stylistic clash
