UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis has released a statement to clarify recent speculation regarding his health and status for his next championship defense.
Over the past week, rumors circulated about a potential injury sustained by the champion. These whispers led potential title challengers, such as Khamzat Chimaev and Caio Borralho, to publicly suggest that du Plessis might not be available to defend his belt. Du Plessis took to social media on Thursday to directly respond to these claims.
In his statement, du Plessis dismissed the injury rumors, specifically addressing claims of a broken shin. He found these stories “entertaining” but emphasized that “none of it is true.” He confirmed that discussions with the UFC regarding his next fight date and opponent are already underway. Du Plessis clarified that a rumored June fight was never officially signed, meaning he did not “pull out” of any scheduled bout.
Asserting his position as the champion, he stated that *he* knows when the fight will happen, and that contenders should simply “show up” when they are told. He concluded his message by assuring fans that a fight announcement is “coming soon.”
While du Plessis did not provide a specific timeframe for when his next title fight announcement will be made or when the actual bout will take place, he indicated that his next defense is being planned.
Du Plessis (23-2) captured the middleweight championship in January 2024 by defeating Sean Strickland via split decision at UFC 297. This victory extended his perfect UFC record to 7-0.
Potential challengers for du Plessis` first title defense are widely believed to include undefeated contenders Khamzat Chimaev (13-0 pro record) and Caio Borralho (16-1 pro record, 6-0, 1 NC in the UFC), both of whom have recently called for a title shot.
