“I’m going there to kill him”, that’s how middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis summed up his mindset for a potential showdown with Khamzat Chimaev. DDP’s ability to mesh schoolyard bully spazzy arm swinging with sublime cardio makes him a worthy challenge for the division’s most dangerous contenders in the form of Chimaev. With fans eagerly anticipating this high-stakes matchup, the MMA world is bracing for a showdown that could redefine its hierarchy.

But while Du Plessis and Chimaev circle each other for supremacy, another wildcard has quietly entered the conversation. We are talking about the #6 ranked middleweight contender, Caio Borralho. Known as one of Chimaev’s close allies, Borralho recently dropped a bombshell about his future in the division. The face of ‘Fighting Nerds’ and self-proclaimed “future champion,” revealed that UFC matchmaker Hunter Campbell has already laid out a roadmap for his title aspirations.

“Hunter told me, ‘I think I might want one more fun fight for you, and then after that, you go for the title’,” Borralho shared in an interview with Inside Fighting. Despite being open to another fight, Borralho believes he’s ready to compete for the title. “I’m on a seven-fight win streak. I beat Jared Cannonier. To be honest, I might be deserving the title (shot) right now.”

‘The Natural’ has quietly become one of the UFC’s most exciting prospects and his outing against Jarod Cannonier showcased his ability to dominate high-level competition. “I did to him what nobody did to him already, you know,” Borralho added.

His growing profile makes his friendship with Chimaev all the more intriguing. But if Chimaev dethrones Du Plessis, will Borralho challenge his friend for the title? Or will this complicate the Brazilian’s path to the gold?

Will UFC gold test the bond between Khamzat Chimaev and Caio Borralho?

Dricus Du Plessis, who claimed the middleweight title by defeating Sean Strickland and then defending it against Israel Adesanya, has cemented his place as the top dog at 185lbs. Yet, his unpredictable style and unapologetic confidence have left him with no shortage of challenges. Speaking about his potential fight with ‘Borz’, ‘Stillknocks’ remarked, “(It would be) absolute chaos if you look at our fights. It’s gonna be absolute chaos, I just think, I don’t see him coming in with a different game plan and me neither. I’m going out there to attack, I’m going there to kill him.”

Meanwhile, Borralho’s comments about the champion have added a layer of drama to the mix. “It’s crazy this one because whenever Dricus fights, I always bet against him, you know” Borralho admitted earlier this year. “Props to him. I just need to congratulate him because even with bad technique, bad game plan, and crazy style, he always makes it work, and he’s winning. He’s undefeated in the UFC, so he deserves this spot that he is right now.”

While Chimaev and Borralho have expressed mutual respect and camaraderie, their ambitions may soon collide. While Chimaev will be looking to claim the 185lbs belt for himself and cement his dominance, Borralho continues his upward trajectory. We will likely find ourselves watching a battle between allies, a scenario that has the full potential to play out dramatically. Could Borralho be forced to wait if Chimaev captures the title? Or will the UFC set up a rare friend vs. friend clash? Let us know in the comments below!