Caio Borralho traveled to South Africa to challenge Dricus du Plessis, prompting a back-and-forth exchange between the fighters. Du Plessis invited Borralho to train at his gym and offered to post sparring footage, while Borralho responded by telling du Plessis to "stop acting like a child" and sign a contract. Du Plessis questioned why Borralho's name would be in contract negotiations and challenged him to visit the gym just 30 minutes away. Meanwhile, a couple of insiders reported that a bout between du Plessis and Kamaru Usman is being developed. The post also mentions that Shavkat Rakhmonov concerned fans with rehabilitation footage showing him far from fighting condition, having not competed in over 18 months.
Caio Borralho traveled to South Africa to stoke the flames of a middleweight rivalry, triggering a public exchange with Dricus du Plessis that has spilled across social media — all while insiders report a separate bout between du Plessis and Kamaru Usman is quietly being assembled.
Du Plessis, ranked second at middleweight and seventh pound-for-pound, carries a 23-3-0 record and has built a reputation as one of the division's most relentless finishers. The 32-year-old South African lands 5.18 significant strikes per minute and averages 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him dangerous across all phases. He invited Borralho to train at his gym and offered to post sparring footage publicly, while also questioning why Borralho's name would even appear in contract discussions.
Borralho, the number-four-ranked middleweight from Brazil, is 18-2-0 and has established himself as a legitimate title contender at 33 years old. Fighting out of a southpaw stance, he lands 3.44 significant strikes per minute at 56 percent accuracy and mixes in a steady grappling output. His response to du Plessis was blunt: stop acting like a child and sign a contract.
Separately, a couple of insiders have reported that a fight between du Plessis and Kamaru Usman is in development, though no official confirmation has been issued.
Adding further intrigue to the 185-pound landscape, welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov has drawn concern from fans after rehabilitation footage surfaced showing the undefeated Kazakh far from fighting shape. Ranked third at welterweight with a perfect 19-0-0 record, the 31-year-old known as Nomad has not competed in over 18 months. His 60 percent striking accuracy and six-foot-four frame make him one of the most feared fighters in the sport, and his timeline back to competition remains unclear.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis versus Borralho would be a top-two versus top-four middleweight collision with title implications
- A du Plessis and Usman bout, if confirmed, would reshape the near-term middleweight title picture entirely
- Rakhmonov's extended absence leaves a significant void at the top of a welterweight division watching his return closely
