UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis is just over two months removed from his second career title defence and awaiting his next challenge.
However, if you listen to online rumours, then you’ll instead have heard Du Plessis is dealing with a broken leg, will be out long-term and that the organization could introduce an interim title in the summer.
The champ took to Instagram on Thursday to quell some of the chatter, including unverified reports that he was pulling out of a speculated-although-never-announced International Fight Week matchup.
“(Okay) so everyone had their opinions and rumours and stories about a shin break and injuries etc.,” Du Plessis wrote. “I found it all very entertaining, unfortunately none of it is true myself and @ufc already discussed a fight date and opponent.”
UFC 317 is scheduled for June 28 in Las Vegas and the matchmakers have yet to finalize which fights will take place at the event.
As things stand, Khamzat Chimaev is expected to get the next shot at Du Plessis’s belt. The undefeated No. 3-ranked contender is coming off a first-round submission win over former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 this past October.
Chimaev has been posting some vague images and comments on social media in recent days, suggesting a title fight between him and Du Plessis is in the works but not coming to fruition.
“The June fight was never signed I did not pull out of any fight,” Du Plessis continued in his social media post. “I am the champion I know when I fight you as a contender just show up when we tell you to. Fight announcement coming soon stay tuned.”
South Africa’s Du Plessis became the 185-pound champion when he won a split decision over American Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 297 in Toronto roughly 15 months ago.
Du Plessis went on to defeat former longtime champion Israel Adesanya by submission at UFC 305 last summer before winning a unanimous decision in his rematch with Strickland at UFC 312 in February to cement his spot at the top of the division. Du Plessis holds a previous win over Whittaker as well.
Other top contenders at middleweight currently include No. 1-ranked Nassourdine Imavov and No. 6-ranked Ciaio Borralho, both of whom are closing in on a title shot thanks to their respective ongoing win streaks. Imavov has won four in a row and stopped Adesanya via technical knockout in February, while Borralho is 7-0 in the UFC and beat Jared Cannonier eight months ago in his most recent appearance.
Borralho kept the rumour mill churning this past Sunday when he tweeted out that if Du Plessis was injured “the only thing that makes sense is” an interim title fight with Chimaev.
Du Plessis, 31, is 9-0 since joining the UFC in 2020, and prior to his rematch with Strickland, the current champ went on record saying he had preferred to face Chimaev, but the organization went ahead and booked a Strickland sequel at UFC 312 in Australia.
The UFC typically attempts to build a blockbuster card for International Fight Week, and a hypothetical Du Plessis vs. Chimaev championship bout would be on the short list of suitable matchups worthy of such billing.
It’s unclear if the UFC is leaning in that direction, though, and what other options are being considered and/or negotiated. No official announcement has been made for UFC 317 other than the fact that it is set to take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Ilia Topuria, the 16-0 former featherweight champion and No. 3-ranked pound-for-pound talent, recently teased his anticipated return to action. It is possible Topuria could compete at UFC 317, though nothing has been confirmed or announced by the organization at this point.
