Following an exchange between Dricus du Plessis and Caio Borralho in South Africa, multiple insiders have reported that the UFC is developing a fight between du Plessis and Kamaru Usman. Borralho traveled to South Africa to challenge du Plessis, who invited him to his gym for sparring. The social media exchange became heated, with Borralho telling du Plessis to sign a contract and du Plessis questioning why Borralho thinks he's in title negotiations. Despite Borralho's challenge, sources indicate Usman is the actual opponent being lined up for the champion.
Multiple insiders report that the UFC is working to put together a middleweight title fight between champion Dricus du Plessis and Kamaru Usman, though nothing has been officially confirmed. The reported development comes amid a very public back-and-forth between du Plessis and top contender Caio Borralho, which spilled into view when Borralho traveled to South Africa and visited du Plessis's gym for sparring.
Du Plessis, 32, carries a 23-3-0 record and holds the middleweight title, currently ranked second in the division and seventh pound-for-pound. The South African fights out of Team CIT and is a dangerous presence from both stances, averaging 5.18 significant strikes per minute with a takedown rate of 2.22 per 15 minutes. When Borralho publicly told him to sign a contract, du Plessis questioned why Borralho would assume he was involved in any title negotiations — a response that now appears pointed given what sources are describing.
Borralho, 33, is ranked fourth in the middleweight division and brings an 18-2-0 record into the mix. The Brazilian southpaw, who trains with The Fighting Nerds, posts a striking accuracy of 56 percent and lands 3.44 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the more well-rounded contenders in the weight class. His willingness to fly to South Africa and push the challenge publicly underscores his frustration at apparently being passed over.
Usman, 39, is listed at eighth in the welterweight rankings with a 21-4-0 record, meaning a move to middleweight would represent a significant step up in weight for the former welterweight champion. He averages 2.82 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands significant strikes at 4.36 per minute, bringing a credible wrestling-based threat to any division.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis defending against Usman would be a high-profile cross-divisional title fight, carrying significant pay-per-view weight
- Borralho, ranked fourth and coming off a direct public callout, could see his title timeline pushed back considerably
- Usman moving up to middleweight adds an unpredictable stylistic element, with his grappling credentials posing a genuine test for du Plessis's 2.22 takedown rate on offense
