Over the past week, rumors have been swirling throughout the MMA world, casting doubt over one of the most anticipated fights of the summer. What Dana White had previously dubbed a “fun fight” at the UFC 314 post-fight press conference—the middleweight title clash between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev—was suddenly in question. Reports from Kevin Iole suggested that ‘Stillknocks’ had suffered an injury while preparing for his third title defense, set to headline UFC 317 during International Fight Week, an already stacked card filled with buzz-worthy matchups.

As speculation mounted, the rising middleweight, Caio Borralho, tried to seize the moment. The surging Brazilian called out Dana White & Co., campaigning for an interim title fight against Chimaev. His move stirred controversy, with many viewing it as an opportunistic attempt to force a rivalry into existence. ‘The Natural’ added fuel to the fire yesterday, claiming through a source that Du Plessis had suffered a broken shin. But today, the champ broke his silence. Taking to Instagram, ‘Stillknocks’ set the record straight, shutting down all injury rumors:

“Okey so everyone had their opinions and rumours, and stories about a shin break and injuries, etc. I found it all very entertaining, unfortunately none of it is true myself and @ufc already discussed a fight date and opponent, the June fight was never signed I did not pull out of any fight, 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.”

Borralho’s comments quickly backfired, drawing widespread criticism from both fans and the media. Many accused him of spreading false information in an attempt to secure an interim title shot. One particular clip went viral on X, where the user dared Dricus Du Plessis to face Chimaev as the co-main event for the rumored lightweight title fight headliner between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria. ‘Stillknocks’ responded with a sharp, 2-word sarcastic remark: “Co-Main 😂😂,” making it clear he sees himself headlining UFC 317.

With Du Plessis publicly denying all injury reports and reaffirming his status, attention has now shifted to the other potential headliner, Makhachev vs. Topuria. While ‘La Leyenda’ has stated, “the camp has begun,” it remains unclear whether that preparation is indeed for a fight against the reigning lightweight champ. Meanwhile, Makhachev’s camp had poured cold water on the matchup on multiple occasions, insisting that Topuria needs to prove himself against a top-ranked contender before earning a shot.

Amid all the uncertainty, Spanish journalist Alvaro Colmenero added fuel to the fire. On X, he claimed, “Ilia Topuria will be fighting at International Fight Week, for a title I am told.” The bold statement only intensified speculation, though concrete answers remain elusive. As Du Plessis stays locked in and ready, questions begin to mount about Khamzat Chimaev’s status. Could the undefeated Chechen be the one facing unexpected hurdles this time? Is his long-awaited title opportunity slipping through the cracks? Let’s find out.

Belal Muhammad highlights Khamzat Chimaev’s flaws ahead of Dricus Du Plessis’ rumored clash

Ilia Topuria’s exit from the featherweight division has triggered a ripple effect across the UFC. What started as a shake-up at 145lbs has now spilled into the lightweight division, and the chaos is slowly creeping into welterweight territory, too. With Makhachev likely wrapping up his run at 155lbs by year’s end, the reigning champ has already hinted at a move to welterweight. But that transition brings an awkward twist—his close friend and longtime training partner, Belal Muhammad, is also eyeing title gold in that division.

To sidestep that clash, ‘Remember The Name’ is setting his sights even higher, calling out Khamzat Chimaev for a scrap at 185 pounds. Chimaev, of course, is in the middle of swirling rumors about a middleweight title fight against Dricus Du Plessis, which now appears uncertain due to reported injury concerns on the South African’s side.

Spotting an opportunity, Muhammad stepped in with a bold challenge for Chimaev at middleweight. In his latest chat with Submission Radio, Muhammad didn’t hold back: “I’ve called out Khamzat when he was at 170. That’s one of those fights I was always looking for—I’m always looking for the toughest challenge. Stylistically, I think I match up very well with him. I think he’ll walk through [Dricus] Du Plessis and become champion. [Khamzat] goes so hard in the first round and comes out like a missile… For me, it’s just about taking him to the later rounds and drowning him.”

With UFC 317 shaping up to be a blockbuster, which rumored matchup has you hyped the most? Is it the potential middleweight showdown or the lightweight title fight? Sound off in the comments and let us know your pick for International Fight Week!