Shavkat Rakhmonov alarmed his fanbase by posting a rehabilitation video showing him far from fighting condition. The undefeated welterweight contender has not competed in over a year and a half, raising concerns about his readiness to return. Meanwhile, Caio Borralho traveled to South Africa to challenge middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, who responded by inviting him to spar at his gym and offering to post the footage. The exchange escalated with Du Plessis questioning why Borralho thinks he is even in title contention discussions. Amid this back-and-forth, multiple insiders reported that a Du Plessis versus Kamaru Usman fight is being developed.
Shavkat Rakhmonov has sparked concern among his supporters after posting a rehabilitation video that suggested the undefeated welterweight contender remains a significant distance from competition shape, extending what is already an 18-month absence from the octagon.
Rakhmonov, known as "Nomad," carries a perfect 19-0-0 record and is ranked third in the UFC welterweight division. The 31-year-old from Kazakhstan stands six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach and has built a reputation as one of the sport's most complete finishers, landing significant strikes at a 60 percent accuracy rate while also averaging 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes. The prolonged layoff has done nothing to dampen expectations around him, which makes the rehabilitation footage all the more alarming to a fanbase waiting on his return.
Separate from the Rakhmonov situation, a notable confrontation has been developing at middleweight. Caio Borralho, ranked fourth in the division and carrying an 18-2-0 record, flew to South Africa to press his case for a title shot. Middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis responded by publicly inviting Borralho to spar at his gym and offering to post the footage. Du Plessis, who holds a 23-3-0 record and sits at number seven in the pound-for-pound rankings, also questioned whether Borralho genuinely belongs in title contention discussions. The 33-year-old Brazilian trains out of The Fighting Nerds and averages 3.44 significant strikes per minute with a 56 percent accuracy rate.
Why it matters
- Rakhmonov's extended absence puts his top-three welterweight ranking and momentum at risk as the division continues moving around him.
- The Du Plessis and Borralho exchange signals a genuine rivalry forming at middleweight, with the champion openly dismissing the fourth-ranked contender's credentials.
- Multiple insiders report that a Du Plessis versus Kamaru Usman bout is being developed, which could complicate or bypass Borralho's path to a title shot entirely.
