Over the past week, rumors have been swirling throughout the MMA world, casting doubt over one of the most anticipated fights of the summer. What Dana White had previously dubbed a “fun fight” at the UFC 314 post-fight press conference—the middleweight title clash between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev—was suddenly in question. Reports from Kevin Iole suggested that Du Plessis had suffered an injury while preparing for his third title defense, set to headline UFC 317 during International Fight Week, an already stacked card filled with buzz-worthy matchups.
As speculation mounted, the rising middleweight, Caio Borralho, tried to seize the moment. The surging Brazilian called out Dana White & Co., campaigning for an interim title fight against Chimaev. His move stirred controversy, with many viewing it as an opportunistic attempt to force a rivalry into existence. ‘The Natural’ added fuel to the fire yesterday, claiming through a source that Du Plessis had suffered a broken shin. But today, the champ broke his silence. Taking to Instagram, Du Plessis set the record straight, shutting down all injury rumors:
“Okey so everyone had their opinions and rumours, and stories about a shin break and injuries, etc. I found it all very entertaining, unfortunately none of it is true myself and @ufc already discussed a fight date and opponent, the June fight was never signed I did not pull out of any fight, I am the champion I know when I fight you as a contender just show up when we tell you to. Fight announcement coming soon stay tuned.”
Borralho’s comments quickly backfired, drawing widespread criticism from both fans and the media. Many accused him of spreading false information in an attempt to secure an interim title shot. One particular clip went viral on X, where the user dared Dricus Du Plessis to face Chimaev as the co-main event for the rumored lightweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria. ‘Stillknocks’ responded with a sharp, 2-word sarcastic remark: “Co-Main .” The South African appeared to make it clear that he expects to headline UFC 317.
Co main
— Dricus Du Plessis (@dricusduplessis) April 24, 2025
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