Shavkat Rakhmonov alarmed his fans with a rehabilitation video in which he appears far from fighting shape. The Kazakhstani welterweight has not competed in the cage for more than a year and a half. Meanwhile, Caio Borralho traveled to South Africa to challenge Dricus Du Plessis, leading to a heated social media exchange where Du Plessis invited him to spar at his gym. The champion told Borralho to stop acting like a child and questioned why Borralho thinks his name is even being discussed in contract negotiations. Against the backdrop of this exchange, multiple insiders reported that a fight between Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman is being developed. The post also notes that Quillan Salkilld and Beneil Dariush look like detective movie partners from the 1980s.
A rehabilitation video posted by Shavkat Rakhmonov has sparked concern among fans, with the unbeaten Kazakhstani welterweight appearing noticeably out of fighting shape as he recovers from what has kept him out of action for more than a year and a half.
Rakhmonov, 31, carries a perfect 19-0-0 record and is ranked third in the welterweight division. Standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, the DAR Team product has built his reputation on a well-rounded and relentless game, landing 3.25 significant strikes per minute at a 60 percent accuracy rate while also averaging 1.4 takedowns and 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes. The extended layoff, now compounded by the rehabilitation footage, has raised genuine questions about when he might return to the cage.
Meanwhile, the middleweight division is generating noise of its own. Caio Borralho traveled to South Africa, a move that sparked a heated social media back-and-forth with champion Dricus Du Plessis. Du Plessis, who holds a 23-3-0 record and sits second in the divisional rankings as well as seventh in the pound-for-pound standings, invited Borralho to spar at his gym while publicly telling him to stop acting like a child and questioning why Borralho believes his name is part of any contract discussions. The 32-year-old South African averages an eye-catching 5.18 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the division's most active offensive fighters.
Against that backdrop, multiple insiders have reported — though nothing is officially confirmed — that a fight between Du Plessis and former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is being developed.
Why it matters
- Rakhmonov's prolonged absence and conditioning concerns leave the welterweight top five unsettled
- The Du Plessis and Borralho social media clash suggests a title challenger picture that remains unresolved
- An unconfirmed Du Plessis versus Usman matchup, if it materializes, would represent a significant crossroads bout for both fighters
