Shavkat Rakhmonov alarmed fans with a rehabilitation video showing him far from fighting condition, having not competed in over a year and a half. Meanwhile, Caio Borralho traveled to South Africa to challenge Dricus Du Plessis, sparking a social media exchange. Du Plessis invited Borralho to his gym for sparring, while Borralho responded by telling the champion to sign a contract. Du Plessis questioned why Borralho's name would be in contract negotiations and challenged him to visit the gym. In related news, multiple insiders report that a Du Plessis vs Kamaru Usman fight is being developed.
Two storylines are stirring the middleweight and welterweight divisions heading into May 2026, and neither involves an officially confirmed fight.
Shavkat Rakhmonov, the unbeaten Kazakh welterweight ranked third in his division, has drawn concern from fans after a rehabilitation video surfaced showing the 31-year-old well short of fighting shape. Rakhmonov has not competed in over a year and a half, leaving his status uncertain. The six-foot-four, 193-centimeter orthodox striker carries a perfect 19-0 record and is one of the division's most complete threats, 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. When he returns remains an open question.
At middleweight, a social media back-and-forth has broken out between champion Dricus Du Plessis and fourth-ranked contender Caio Borralho. Borralho, a 33-year-old Brazilian fighting out of The Fighting Nerds with an 18-2 record, traveled to South Africa to call out the champion in his own backyard. Du Plessis, carrying a 23-3 record and ranked seventh pound-for-pound, responded by inviting Borralho to his gym for sparring. Borralho fired back, telling the champion to sign a contract first. Du Plessis questioned why Borralho's name would even appear in contract talks before repeating the gym invitation.
Why it matters
- Rakhmonov's long absence puts his top-three welterweight ranking and a potential title shot in limbo.
- Borralho's in-person callout signals genuine ambition from the fourth-ranked middleweight contender.
- The Du Plessis-Borralho exchange adds pressure on matchmakers, though no contract is confirmed.
- Multiple insiders report a Du Plessis versus Kamaru Usman matchup is being developed, which could complicate any Borralho timeline — though that report is also unconfirmed.
