Dricus Du Plessis and Caio Borralho engaged in a public back-and-forth after Borralho traveled to South Africa to challenge the champion. Du Plessis invited him to spar at his gym, while Borralho urged him to sign a contract for an official fight. Du Plessis dismissed Borralho's title contention. Meanwhile, multiple insiders have reported that a bout between Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman is being developed. Additionally, Shavkat Rakhmonov concerned fans with rehabilitation footage showing him far from fighting condition after over 18 months away from competition.
The middleweight title picture grew more complicated this week as Dricus Du Plessis and Caio Borralho engaged in a public war of words, while unconfirmed reports suggest the South African champion may instead be steered toward a showdown with Kamaru Usman.
The exchange began after Borralho traveled to South Africa to personally issue a challenge to Du Plessis. The champion responded by inviting the Brazilian to spar at his gym — a move Borralho dismissed, pushing Du Plessis to sign an official contract instead. Du Plessis, for his part, made clear he does not view Borralho as a legitimate title contender.
Du Plessis carries a 23-3 record and holds the middleweight belt, currently ranked second in the division and seventh pound-for-pound at 32 years of age. Fighting out of South Africa with Team CIT, he is an unusually active striker, landing 5.18 significant strikes per minute while also threatening the takedown at a rate of 2.22 per fifteen minutes.
Borralho enters the conversation ranked fourth at 185 pounds, bringing an 18-2 record and a well-rounded game to the table. The 33-year-old Brazilian southpaw lands 3.44 significant strikes per minute at 56 percent accuracy and mixes in takedowns at 1.28 per fifteen minutes, making him a consistent threat across multiple areas.
The reported Usman development adds another layer of uncertainty to the division's direction, though no official booking has been confirmed.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis dismissing Borralho publicly could stall what would be a logical top-four matchup at middleweight.
- An unconfirmed Du Plessis versus Usman bout would represent a significant crossroads fight rather than a straightforward title defense.
- Shavkat Rakhmonov, the welterweight division's unbeaten third-ranked contender, has drawn concern after rehabilitation footage suggested he remains far from competition-ready after more than eighteen months away, leaving his return timeline uncertain.
