UFC welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov posted rehabilitation footage that alarmed his fanbase, as he appeared far from fighting condition in the video. The Kazakh fighter has not competed in over a year and a half, raising concerns about his return timeline. Meanwhile, Brazilian middleweight Caio Borralho traveled to South Africa to challenge champion Dricus Du Plessis, who responded by inviting Borralho to spar at his gym and posting the footage. Their social media exchange escalated, with Du Plessis questioning why Borralho's name would be in title contract negotiations. Additionally, multiple insiders reported that a fight between Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman is being developed.
Undefeated welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov has drawn concern from fans after posting rehabilitation footage that showed him in noticeably poor physical condition, casting fresh doubt on when the Kazakh fighter will next step inside the octagon.
Rakhmonov, 31, carries a perfect 19-0 record and holds the number-three ranking in the welterweight division. Standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, the orthodox striker from Kazakhstan has built his reputation on a well-rounded game — landing 3.25 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 60 percent accuracy while also averaging 1.4 takedowns and 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes. He has not competed in over a year and a half, and the latest video did little to ease speculation about his timeline.
Across the Atlantic, unrelated middleweight drama unfolded when Brazilian contender Caio Borralho traveled to South Africa in what appeared to be an attempt to call out champion Dricus Du Plessis on his home turf. Du Plessis responded by inviting Borralho to spar at his gym and posting the footage publicly. The South African champion, ranked number two in the middleweight division and seventh pound-for-pound, then questioned publicly why Borralho's name would appear in title contract negotiations. Borralho, 33, sits fourth in the middleweight rankings with an 18-2 record and averages 3.44 significant strikes per minute at 56 percent accuracy. Du Plessis, 32, holds a 23-3 record and leads the division with 5.18 significant strikes per minute, also mixing in 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Separately, multiple insiders have reportedly indicated that a fight between Du Plessis and former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is in development, though nothing has been officially confirmed.
Why it matters
- Rakhmonov's uncertain health puts one of welterweight's top-three contenders in limbo, potentially reshaping the division's title picture
- The Du Plessis and Borralho social media confrontation signals a genuine rivalry building, even as the champion publicly downplayed Borralho's claim to a title shot
- Reports of a Du Plessis versus Usman matchup, if confirmed, would add a marquee name to the middleweight queue and complicate any near-term title booking
