UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and contender Caio Borralho engaged in a public back-and-forth after Borralho traveled to South Africa to challenge the champion. Du Plessis invited Borralho to spar at his gym and post the footage, while Borralho demanded Du Plessis sign a contract for an official bout. The champion responded by questioning why Borralho believes he's in title contention and challenged him to visit the gym, which was only 30 minutes away. Meanwhile, multiple insiders reported that a fight between Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman is being developed, which would bypass Borralho for the title shot.
UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and ranked contender Caio Borralho have traded sharp public words after Borralho made a bold move by traveling to South Africa to press his case for a title shot.
Du Plessis, 32, holds a 23-3-0 record and sits as the reigning champion at 185 pounds, ranked seventh pound-for-pound in the sport. Fighting out of Team CIT on a switch stance, the South African is one of the division's most active strikers, landing 5.18 significant strikes per minute while also threatening with 2.22 takedown attempts per 15 minutes. His response to Borralho's arrival was pointed — he invited the Brazilian to come spar at his gym, which he noted was only 30 minutes away, and suggested the footage be posted publicly.
Borralho, 33, carries an 18-2-0 record and is currently ranked fourth in the middleweight division. The southpaw out of The Fighting Nerds boasts a striking accuracy of 56 percent and averages 3.44 significant strikes per minute. Rather than accept Du Plessis's sparring invitation, Borralho pushed back with a more straightforward demand: sign a contract for an official fight.
Du Plessis questioned the basis of Borralho's belief that he is next in line for a title opportunity, sharpening the tension between the two.
The back-and-forth is further complicated by reports from multiple insiders that the champion's next bout is being steered toward Kamaru Usman, the former welterweight king now sitting 8th in the middleweight rankings with a 21-4-0 record. That potential matchup, if confirmed, would push Borralho down the queue despite his top-five standing.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis vs. Borralho would be a legitimate top-five middleweight collision, but it may not be next.
- A reported Du Plessis vs. Usman booking would bypass the division's fourth-ranked contender entirely.
- Borralho's trip to South Africa signals he is actively campaigning for the shot, not waiting quietly.
