The middleweight division is in a state of chaos, with reports indicating that champion Dricus Du Plessis has suffered an injury. This could jeopardize his scheduled title defense against the phenom that is Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 317 during International Fight Week. Seeing an opportunity in the midst of this uncertainty, fellow middleweight contender Caio Borralho has stepped up to the plate, channeling his inner Mike Tyson with a simple and concise request for both Chimaev and UFC CEO Dana White. So, what exactly was Borralho’s Tyson-esque demand?
Following Borralho’s initial request to step in for the wounded Du Plessis, Chimaev responded on social media with a confident and slightly dismissive remark. “If we fight a hundred times, you will never win if somebody knows you know that, bro,” Chimaev shared, accompanied by laughing emojis, clearly dismissing Borralho’s chances of fighting him. ‘The Natural,’ on the other hand, was not afraid to take a verbal jibe of his own. In a quick and clear response to ‘Borz,’ “The Natural” channeled the spirit of Mike Tyson, simply saying, “@khamzat_chimaev, if you say so! Sign the contract, and we will see.”
Despite Khamzat Chimaev’s annoyance and dismissal, Borralho refuses to back down. In fact, as ‘Borz’ pushes back, ‘The Natural’ appears to double down. His argument that the UFC should make this an interim championship fight is more than just a scream for attention; it is based on strategy. The Brazilian understands that if Du Plessis is out for a time and Chimaev still wants to fight, the UFC may have no choice but to book the next best man. And who better than someone who has already trained with Chimaev, studied his game, and isn’t afraid of the undefeated juggernaut?
So here we are: a possible title bout in limbo, a champion nursing an injury, and two contenders squaring off on social media before a contract is even signed. Caio Borralho’s timing may have been risky, but it was wise. He’s caught the UFC in a scenario that requires immediate solutions, and he’s providing them, with a little Tyson-style bite and a lot of self-belief. Now all eyes are on Dana White and Hunter Campbell. However, it is worth noting that we cannot completely count out Dricus Du Plessis. But isn’t he injured? Well, he is, but we must not forget that he is a very different breed.
Dricus Du Plessis may end up fighting Khamzat Chimaev despite being injured
That’s the thing about Dricus Du Plessis: counting him out never seems to work. Yes, he is supposedly injured. Yes, UFC 317 is just around the corner. But if there is one middleweight fighter who has made a career out of overcoming physical or mental restrictions, it is the South African. Long before he became champion, he was fighting top contenders while breathing through a barely functional nose, surviving back-takes, guillotine attempts, and crazy firefights against seasoned veterans. That individual does not back away from challenges. He absorbs them, smiles despite the blood and bruises, and continues forward.
You don’t believe us? Well, we saw him beat all odds when he stepped into the cage against Derek Brunson at UFC 285. A fighter with significantly more experience and a wrestling history that most would avoid. ‘Stillknocks’ was not simply taken down; he was dominated, swarmed, and practically smothered by the speed. His unrepaired nose caused him to suck wind as if he had bricks on his chest. Nevertheless, he kept getting up. With each intake of air came another elbow, backfist, or attack that forced Brunson back. In the end, it was Du Plessis who stood strong, bruised but victorious. That moment was more than just a victory; it was a statement that we cannot count him out.
So, even if rumors of his withdrawal are making headlines, there’s a quiet skepticism that we haven’t heard the last of DDP for UFC 317. This is the man who marched through Robert Whittaker like he was a gatekeeper rather than a former champion. The same man who transformed his once-laughable cardio into a weapon. Dricus Du Plessis is the type of fighter who would risk an injury for the sake of International Fight Week fame. Khamzat Chimaev may have Borralho yelling at him and Dana White looking at backup plans, but there’s a good possibility that Du Plessis, with his fixed nose and iron will, will still take that trip. What do you think? What’s on the plate for UFC 317? Let us know in the comments.
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