The UFC could be staring at a multi-million dollar problem heading into International Fight Week. And, fans across the globe are calling for one man to fix it- Hunter Campbell. Following the uncertainty surrounding Dricus Du Plessis’ injury and his rumored withdrawal from the much-hyped UFC 317 middleweight title clash against undefeated star Khamzat Chimaev, fans have zeroed in on the UFC’s Chief Business Officer to pull off a last-minute save. The stakes are a marquee event that anchors the UFC’s biggest commercial weekend of the year.
As of now, no official word has come from Dana White or the promotion. But smoke continues to pour from the MMA news furnace, with insiders suggesting that Du Plessis might be out, and Chimaev is left without a partner. In the chaos, the UFC fandom has turned its collective eyes toward Campbell, the rumored successor to White, a silent operator with influence in talent negotiations, matchmaking compromises, and damage control.
Think back to Roku’s UFC documentary ‘Fight Inc: Inside the UFC’ that premiered last year. There were two moments when Campbell’s negotiation skills were on display. The first? His tactful nudging of Aljamain Sterling to accept the Sean O’Malley fight for UFC 292 in August 2023. Sterling had just fought in May, and it was a quick turnaround for a champion. He lost the fight and the 135 lbs title in the contest, and the UFC had a potential star in O’Malley now able to headline PPVs with a title bout.
The second moment was perhaps the making of the biggest fight in UFC history. Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic. And where did Campbell get it done? In a parking lot! He was able to change Jones’ mind and get him to agree to a fight in New York’s Madison Square Garden. “The biggest fight in heavyweight history just got made in a car on a parking lot, so go figure that one,” Campbell said after the talks.
Campbell’s reputation is tested again as UFC 317 faces the shake-up. The pressure on the UFC’s Chief Business Officer is not just online overreaction. Khamzat Chimaev is one of the UFC’s most marketable athletes. His undefeated record, global appeal, and reputation for violence inside the cage make him a cornerstone for big-ticket events. If Chimaev is left without a viable opponent for UFC 317, particularly during International Fight Week, the UFC risks losing tens of millions in gate revenue, pay-per-view sales, and sponsorship bonuses.
The temperature on social media has been rising ever since news broke about Du Plessis’ injury. But it was one post that set the tone. MMA fans didn’t mince words when one X post claimed, “i cannot explain how desperately a Hunter Campbell masterclass is needed rn.”
i cannot explain how desperately a Hunter Campbell masterclass is needed rn pic.twitter.com/JGJ36tVpZe
— ACD MMA (@acdmma_) April 20, 2025
That tweet has racked up more than 290,000 views in under 24 hours. For the online fight community, it’s become a mission statement. Others followed with sharply split sentiments. Some mocked Campbell’s negotiating tactics, while others leaned into the drama unfolding backstage. “Masterclass on strong arming talent and making them sign mediocre deals? ‘For you $25k and $25k’,” remarked a fan.
Then came the visual metaphor that stuck with fans, Hunter Campbell compared to Money Heist’s criminal mastermind: “Idk why but he always reminds me of the Professor from Money Heist.”
No exaggeration. That’s how fans view Campbell. For the UFC community, he is strategic and always moving pieces behind the curtain to protect the UFC’s momentum. The UFC’s limited replacement options highlight a deeper matchmaking bottleneck.
Khamzat Chimaev’s title shot at UFC 317 exposes a thin middleweight star pool
If Du Plessis is out, the UFC faces a replacement dilemma that exposes a structural gap in the middleweight division. Outside of Caio Borralho, who has already raised his hand online, there are few viable options. Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, and Robert Whittaker are all coming off recent losses. Only Nassourdine Imavov, who finished Adesanya in February, sits in realistic contention. But even his availability and marketability for a quick pivot remain questionable.
Dana White hasn’t shown much enthusiasm for interim belts unless a star fighter’s absence stretches beyond six months. Yet, with UFC 317 potentially hanging by a thread, this might be one of those rare moments where pragmatism trumps principle. A quick solution would not only preserve the PPV value of UFC 317 but would also maintain momentum for Chimaev, who hasn’t fought since October. Sitting him out again could cool his surging popularity and stall a title run that fans have waited years to see materialize. That’s where Campbell comes in.
He’s negotiated some of the most delicate fighter deals in recent memory, often under time constraints and with no margin for error. His target for IFW is twofold. Keep Chimaev on the card, and keep Chimaev vs. Du Plessis alive. If the new opponent does the unthinkable and derails the Chimaev hype train, that fight goes out the window. And there aren’t many guys raising their hands to fight Chimaev, unlike Du Plessis. Imavov and Borralho are capable of causing the upset. But there’s one more hurdle.
Neither stars have a reputation of their own. It will be Chimaev attracting all the eyes, regardless of who he fights. So, the UFC desperately needs him to win if they put him up against either of those middleweight candidates. They need legitimate PPV stars, who, at the moment, are a dying breed.
With the fan base demanding answers, Hunter Campbell may need to pull off his boldest move yet. Whether it’s convincing a rising contender to take a short-notice title shot or reshuffling the card to elevate other fights, UFC 317 is now a test of organizational muscle and matchmaking ingenuity.
What do you think, should the UFC roll the dice with a new opponent or shelve Chimaev until Dricus is healthy? Sound off below and tell us who you want to see face ‘Borz’ on June 28.
The post Calls Mount for Dana White’s Fixer Hunter Campbell to Save Millions in Revenue as Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC Fight in Jeopardy appeared first on EssentiallySports.