In a major letdown for fight fans, the potential middleweight title clash between reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 317’s International Fight Week has reportedly been scrapped. The news, first reported by veteran journalist Kevin Iole, has sent shockwaves through the MMA community, leaving millions of fans disappointed. Touted as one of the year’s most compelling matchups by pundits, the bout promised fireworks, thanks to both fighters’ explosive styles and elite reputations in the division.

The cancellation hits particularly hard for Khamzat Chimaev, whose UFC career has already been riddled with setbacks. Since his debut, six of his scheduled fights have been canceled, mostly due to recurring health issues and illness-related complications.

After making significant changes—including a new coaching setup—Khamzat Chimaev appeared primed to make his long-awaited leap toward UFC gold. But with ‘Stillknocks’ reportedly injured, that moment has once again been delayed. Clearly frustrated, ‘Borz’ broke his silence on X, writing bluntly: “This guy biggest bulls**t.”

Just a year ago, Khamzat Chimaev wasn’t even in the middleweight title conversation. Despite his hype, inactivity and a string of cancellations saw him fall out of the top 10 by mid-2023. But that changed at UFC 308, where he submitted former champion Robert Whittaker with a crank-face finish. The dominant win catapulted him ten spots up the rankings to #3, putting him right back in the mix.

Now, with the Dricus Du Plessis fight scrapped, UFC 317’s main event could see a major shakeup. According to reports, the promotion may pivot to a lightweight title fight—potentially between reigning champ Islam Makhachev and  Justin Gaethje.

Despite this, fans still hold on to hope that Khamzat Chimaev could make his way onto the card. Fans speculate that the UFC might arrange an interim middleweight title bout, considering Caio Borralho and Nassourdine Imavov as possible replacements. Nevertheless, the fight everyone still has on their minds is the long-awaited Dricus Du Plessis vs. Chimaev showdown.

Who’s Michael Bisping’s favorite between Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus Du Plessis?

The official confirmation regarding Dricus Du Plessis’ injury is still pending from Dana White & Co., and whether they’ll be part of UFC 317 during International Fight Week remains unconfirmed. However, the hype surrounding the fight speaks volumes about what fans are eager to see. MMA veterans, including Michael Bisping, have expressed excitement over the potential match-up between ‘Stillknocks’ and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 317. Bisping, though, had predicted that a setback might occur, which now seems to be the case, considering ‘Borz’s history of illness.

On his YouTube channel, Bisping shared his thoughts on the situation, stating, “I would favor Dricus Du Plessis in that match-up. That’s a perfect fight for International Fight Week. Also, Caio Borralho was talking to Daniel Cormier, mentioning that he’s set to fight Imavov. The beauty of this match-up during International Fight Week is that if Dricus fights Khamzat and someone gets injured in the process, there’s always the option for a short-notice replacement to step in.”

What’s your take on Khamzat Chimaev’s next move? Should he fight for the interim belt at UFC 317, or is it better for him to wait until Dricus Du Plessis is fully healed? Share your thoughts below