Khamzat Chimaev appears to have shifted his focus towards a new challenge for his UFC return at International Fight Week.
It was reported last week that Dricus Du Plessis may be out of their middleweight title fight that was loosely planned for the main event of UFC 317. This angered Chimaev, who seems to now be setting his sights on a clash with number six-ranked Caio Borralho, who is undefeated in the UFC.
The Swede has previously trained with Borralho, who called him the toughest sparring partner of his career. But the Brazilian instantly made the callout to face his divisional rival when it was reported that he wouldn’t have a fight.
Khamzat Chimaev and Caio Borralho go back-and-forth on social media
When reports of a Dricus Du Plessis injury began to circulate on social media yesterday, one thing that wasn’t common was middleweights jumping at the shot to fight Khamzat Chimaev. He is one of the most fearsome fighters in the UFC, and Caio Borralho seemed to be the only one interested in stepping up.
“I know a guy @ufc,” he wrote on X. “You know who to call.” He later tweeted that: “Khamzat said yes! The only thing that makes sense is the Interim belt! This fight is gonna be bigger than him vs Dricus! Marks my words.”
Since then, the pair have been feuding in comments of Instagram posts, with Chimaev first sharing a picture of their old sparring in which he seemed to be taking down the Brazilian. He followed it up by mocking his rival and insisting he beats him however many times they compete.
“If we will fight hundred times, you will never win,” Chimaev wrote on one of Borralho’s many posts. “If somebody knows you know that bro.” The ‘Fighting Nerds’ star, for his part, replied: “If you say so, sign the contract and we will see!”
Khamzat Chimaev was due to face Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 317
While no official announcement had been made, it was believed that a middleweight title clash between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev was in the works to headline International Fight Week. The pair have been on a collision course for years, and were due to settle it in Las Vegas.
However, veteran combat reporter Kevin Iole noted in an article on his website that the bout may be in danger due to an injury. “I’m hearing Dricus Du Plessis is injured,” Iole wrote in a paragraph buried midway through the piece.
“And though there has been no confirmation, if that’s accurate, a bout between Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev couldn’t headline IFW.” Seemingly in response, Chimaev wrote on X: “This guy biggest bulls—,” alongside an emoji of someone putting their face in their hands.
