A highly anticipated middleweight title clash between champion Dricus Du Plessis and unbeaten contender Khamzat Chimaev is now in doubt, following reports that Du Plessis has suffered an injury.
According to veteran journalist Kevin Iole, the South African champion may be sidelined for longer than expected, putting his UFC 317 title defense in jeopardy. While the nature of the injury hasn’t been confirmed, it’s reportedly serious enough to delay his return to the Octagon.
The bout was widely expected to headline UFC’s International Fight Week event in Las Vegas on June 28, but the UFC has yet to officially announce a main event.
A Clash Put on Ice?
Du Plessis last fought in February, where he edged out Sean Strickland via unanimous decision to claim the title in Sydney. He has since been open about wanting to face Chimaev — but now the delay has opened the door to new possibilities.
Your daily dose of sports action starts at DanredSports.com—where passion meets reporting!
Meanwhile, Chimaev, undefeated since joining the UFC in 2020, has remained a looming threat in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions. His recent wins over Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker only added fuel to the fire for a potential title shot.
A New Opponent for Chimaev?
As rumors swirled, Brazilian middleweight Caio Borralho announced he’d been offered a fight against Chimaev — and claimed that Chimaev has already accepted. That fight could now serve as a stand-in for the delayed title bout if Du Plessis remains unavailable.
Uncertainty Ahead of UFC 317
With less than three months to go, the UFC still hasn’t locked in a headliner for UFC 317. A flyweight title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Kara-France is confirmed for the main card, but fans are waiting to see whether Chimaev remains on the bill — and if so, against who.
As of now, UFC champions like Jon Jones, Islam Makhachev, and even Du Plessis himself have yet to step into the cage in 2025. Fight fans are hoping International Fight Week won’t pass without one of the year’s marquee matchups.