UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis responded to challenger Caio Borralho's arrival in South Africa by inviting him to spar at his gym. Borralho traveled to South Africa specifically to challenge Du Plessis. When Borralho told Du Plessis to sign a contract, the champion responded dismissively, questioning why Borralho's name would be in negotiations and challenging him to come to the gym within 30 minutes. The social media exchange was heated, with Du Plessis suggesting Borralho lacks the courage to back up his words. Meanwhile, insiders reported that a bout between Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman is in development. The post also mentioned Shavkat Rakhmonov concerning fans with rehabilitation footage showing him far from fighting condition after being out for over 18 months.
UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis fired back at Caio Borralho after the Brazilian traveled to South Africa to confront him publicly, daring Borralho to walk into his gym within 30 minutes and settle things on the mat rather than on social media.
Du Plessis, 32, holds a 23-3-0 record and is ranked second in the middleweight division, sitting seventh on the pound-for-pound list. Fighting out of South Africa for Team CIT, the switch-stance champion is one of the more active offensive threats in the division, averaging 5.18 significant strikes per minute alongside a notable 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes. When Borralho told him to sign a contract, Du Plessis responded dismissively, questioning why the challenger's name would even be part of negotiations and publicly doubting his willingness to back up the callout in person.
Borralho, 33, carries an 18-2-0 record and is ranked fourth at middleweight. The Brazilian southpaw, who competes for The Fighting Nerds, lands 3.44 significant strikes per minute at 56 percent accuracy and adds 1.28 takedowns per 15 minutes to give him a well-rounded threat profile. He made the trip to South Africa specifically to force the issue with the champion, but the exchange remained heated and unresolved.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis versus Borralho remains unconfirmed, and the entire confrontation should be treated as unverified given the social media nature of the dispute.
- Separately, insiders have reported that a fight between Du Plessis and former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is in development, which could complicate Borralho's bid for a title shot.
- Also drawing attention is welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, ranked third at 170 pounds with a perfect 19-0-0 record, whose recent rehabilitation footage has concerned fans after more than 18 months away from competition.
