Caio Borralho traveled to South Africa to challenge Dricus Du Plessis, prompting the champion to invite him to spar at his gym. Du Plessis told Borralho he could post videos of the sparring sessions if he wanted. When Borralho suggested Du Plessis sign a contract, the champion questioned why Borralho's name would even be in negotiations and challenged him to come to the gym since it was only 30 minutes away. Meanwhile, several insiders have reported that a fight between Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman is being developed. The post also notes that Shavkat Rakhmonov frightened his fans with a rehabilitation video showing him far from fighting condition after more than a year and a half out of action.
Caio Borralho took his middleweight title ambitions directly to Dricus Du Plessis's doorstep, traveling to South Africa to issue a personal callout — and the champion responded by inviting him to settle things in the gym instead.
Du Plessis, 32, carries a 23-3-0 record and holds the middleweight title while ranking seventh pound-for-pound. The South African is among the division's most active strikers, landing 5.18 significant strikes per minute, and supplements his stand-up with 2.22 takedown attempts per 15 minutes. When Borralho pushed him to sign a contract, Du Plessis questioned why Borralho's name would even come up in title negotiations and pointed out that his gym was only 30 minutes away — adding that Borralho was welcome to film and post whatever he wanted from any sparring sessions.
Borralho, 33, is ranked fourth in the middleweight division with an 18-2-0 record. The Brazilian southpaw fights out of The Fighting Nerds and has built his reputation on a well-rounded game, connecting at 56 percent striking accuracy while also averaging 1.28 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Adding another layer of uncertainty to Du Plessis's near future, multiple insiders have reported — though nothing is confirmed — that a bout between the champion and former welterweight king Kamaru Usman is being developed.
Separately, welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov drew concern from fans after a rehabilitation video surfaced showing the undefeated Kazakh far from fighting shape following more than a year and a half away from competition. Rakhmonov, ranked third at welterweight with a perfect 19-0-0 record, has been one of the division's most dangerous finishers, averaging 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside a 60 percent striking accuracy rate.
Why it matters
- A Du Plessis title defense against Borralho would pit the fourth-ranked contender against a champion who holds a significant volume and activity advantage on the feet.
- The unconfirmed Usman matchup could complicate or delay any Borralho negotiation entirely.
- Rakhmonov's uncertain physical condition raises questions about when the welterweight's unbeaten run will resume.
