Caio Borralho believes he has insight into why UFC 317’s rumored title fight between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev is no longer happening. The UFC Middleweight Champion was slated to defend his title against the undefeated Chechen on June 28 during International Fight Week.
That plan seems to have crumbled, according to veteran MMA reporter Kevin Iole, who revealed that du Plessis had suffered an injury. There is no official replacement or confirmation yet from UFC CEO Dana White. Chimaev’s cryptic reaction on social media added fuel to the speculation, but a definitive statement remains elusive.
Caio Borralho is ‘100% Sure’ Dricus du Plessis Injured His Leg
While Dricus Du Plessis has yet to publicly disclose the nature of the injury or a recovery timeline, Caio Borralho claims he’s been hearing whispers of a serious leg injury — specifically, a broken shin.
“Actually, two people, I don’t know if they’re close to him or to his team, two people messaged me and said, ‘Did you see that DDP got injured, he broke his leg in half?’” Borralho told Submission Radio. “ People are saying that, I think it’s some shin problem, he was kicking somewhere and broke his shin, I’m not sure, I just heard about it.”
“And then I saw Khamzat’s Twitter that he’s saying like ‘This guy is bulls**t,’ then I was like 100% sure, (du Plessis) was injured.”
Though the details remain a mystery, the rumors point toward a recovery period that could sideline “Stillknocks” for several months, potentially until fall. If true, the UFC middleweight title picture may be on hold, unless the promotion opts for an interim solution.
Caio Borralho Wants To Replace Dricus du Plessis Against Khamzat Chimaev
In the wake of Dricus du Plessis’ alleged injury, Borralho has emerged as a vocal candidate to step in and face Khamzat Chimaev. The Brazilian contender extended his unbeaten streak to 16 with a dominant victory over Jared Cannonier last August, and he’s been itching for a high-profile fight ever since.
Borralho says he was offered a bout against top-five middleweight Nassourdine Imavov for UFC 317, but claims Imavov turned it down. “He wants to wait for the belt, but I need to fight a top-five guy first. But he’s a top-five guy. It doesn’t make sense what he’s saying,” Borralho said.
With that opportunity gone, Borralho is now eyeing Chimaev. Despite no official confirmation from the UFC, he believes the timing makes sense, especially with Du Plessis potentially out of commission.
“I saw the opportunity when I heard that Dricus was injured, and I said, ‘This is my shot,’” Borralho explained to Ariel Helwani. “I need to go there and show that I’m ready, that I’m willing to face anyone, doesn’t matter who, and I asked the UFC for this.”
“We’re still waiting for them. We’re still waiting for Khamzat’s response. I think he’s just fighting me if it’s for the belt. If it’s not for the belt, he doesn’t want to fight me. So, we’re still waiting for what’s going on.”
Borralho isn’t optimistic that Chimaev will agree unless the fight is for the title, despite initially claiming that ‘Borz’ has said yes. For now, the middleweight division is in limbo, and Borralho is stuck in a holding pattern.
With UFC 317 fast approaching and the main event in doubt, the promotion faces a critical decision: reshuffle the top of the division or risk a high-profile card without a title bout. Either way, Borralho has made it clear: he’s ready to step in.