**Khamzat Chimaev** says two middleweights he recently called out, **Caio Borralho** and **Dricus Du Plessis**, are off the table for his next fight due to injuries. In comments reported this week, Chimaev stated he has been told both fighters are currently sidelined, closing the door on those matchups for his return. This changes the immediate matchmaking landscape at middleweight, as Du Plessis is a top contender and Borralho a rising threat; Chimaev will now need a different opponent if he wants to re‑enter the title picture. He emphasized his desire to come back “as soon as possible,” so attention turns to which healthy contender the UFC can line up instead.
Khamzat Chimaev's path back to the middleweight title picture has become murkier, according to reports this week, after the two fighters he had publicly targeted for his return were ruled out due to injury.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," stated he was informed that both Caio Borralho and Dricus Du Plessis are currently sidelined, effectively eliminating those matchups from consideration for now. The Swede-born fighter, who competes out of the UAE and trains with Allstars Training Center, carries a 15-1 record and sits as the number-one ranked middleweight in the division. He is 32 years old and has built his reputation on a suffocating grappling-heavy style, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 60 percent. He made clear his desire to return as soon as possible, leaving the UFC with the task of finding a healthy alternative.
Du Plessis, the South African ranked second at middleweight and seventh pound-for-pound, holds a 24-3 record. The 32-year-old switch-stance fighter is a dangerous all-around threat, landing 5.21 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach, and would have represented a meaningful title-contention clash with Chimaev.
Borralho, the Brazilian ranked fifth in the division at 33 years old, brings an 18-2 record and quietly efficient output — landing strikes at 56 percent accuracy while mixing in 1.28 takedowns per 15 minutes. He had been gaining momentum as one of the division's more credible rising challengers.
Why it matters
- Chimaev holds the top middleweight ranking, so his next opponent carries significant title-picture weight regardless of who is chosen
- Both Du Plessis and Borralho are ranked inside the top five, meaning replacements of similar standing may be difficult to source quickly
- The situation remains unconfirmed at an official level and should be treated as a developing report until the UFC or the fighters themselves address it publicly
