UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis responded to Caio Borralho's challenge in South Africa by inviting him to his gym to spar, offering to let Borralho post any resulting footage. When Borralho replied telling Du Plessis to "stop acting like a child" and sign a contract, the champion questioned why Borralho believes he's even part of title negotiations, adding that Borralho was only 30 minutes from the gym. Meanwhile, multiple insiders have reported that a fight between Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman is being developed. The exchange highlights the verbal sparring common in MMA promotion, though details remain limited on whether an actual bout between Du Plessis and Borralho is under serious consideration.
UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis fired back at Caio Borralho's public callout by inviting the Brazilian contender to come spar at his gym in South Africa, even offering to let Borralho share any footage from the session.
Du Plessis, 32, carries a 23-3-0 record and holds the middleweight title while sitting seventh in the pound-for-pound rankings. The South African switches stances and operates at a high pace, landing 5.18 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach. He also mixes in a credible grappling threat, averaging 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes. When Borralho responded by telling him to stop acting like a child and simply sign a contract, Du Plessis publicly questioned why Borralho considers himself part of title negotiations at all, pointedly noting that the challenger was only 30 minutes from the gym.
Borralho, 33, sits fourth in the middleweight division with an 18-2-0 record. The southpaw from Brazil trains with The Fighting Nerds and posts a striking accuracy of 56 percent, the highest of the three fighters mentioned in this story, landing 3.44 significant strikes per minute. He has been vocal about his desire to compete for the belt, and the callout that prompted this exchange reflects his push to force his way into the championship picture.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis publicly dismissing Borralho's contract demands signals that the champion does not view him as the next title challenger
- Multiple insiders report a Du Plessis versus Kamaru Usman fight is being developed, which would push Borralho further down the queue
- Usman, 39, holds a 21-4-0 record and a 76-inch reach, and moving up from welterweight would mark a significant shift in his career trajectory
- The fourth-ranked Borralho risks being leapfrogged in title contention if the Usman bout materialises
