Jan 20, 2024; Toronto, Canada, USA; Dricus Du Plessis (blue gloves) celebrates defeating Sean Strickland (red glove) during UFC 297 at ScotiaBank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

mma

Dricus Du Plessis Breaks His Silence On Injury Rumors, Sets The Record Straight With A Candid Update!

Dricus Du Plessis updates on his injury after rumors surface of withdrawing out of fight against Khamzat Chimaev!

With South African powerhouse Dricus Du Plessis holding the belt, the middleweight division faces a twist. His rise to championship status shocked many who doubted the awkward yet effective fighting style he brings to the octagon. After winning against Sean Strickland in a rematch, Du Plessis has become the target every middleweight aims for.

For Du Plessis, the UFC quickly lined up a dangerous challenger in Khamzat Chimaev. The undefeated Chechen fighter has looked unstoppable since entering the promotion. His recent destruction of former champion Robert Whittaker solidified his claim for a title shot. But just as fans got excited about this potential clash of styles, rumors began swirling about Du Plessis being injured. The MMA world went into speculation overdrive, with fighters, fans, and media all weighing in on what this might mean for UFC 317.

Also Read: Ian Garry Backs Islam Makhachev’s Double-Champ Dream While Eyeing A Showdown Of His Own!

Caio Borralho Drops Bombshell About Champion’s Shin Injury

Rising contender Caio Borralho ignited serious concern when he shared details about Du Plessis’s condition. The Brazilian fighter claimed he heard from sources close to the champion’s camp that Du Plessis suffered a leg injury.

“I also heard from another source a little closer to Dricus’ camp that it was an injury that seems to be a little serious, like a broken shin. I don’t know. Something like that. He’ll be out for about six months, and that would make it easier for the UFC to put [the interim title on the line]. So, I’m waiting for that. This fight will only happen if it’s for the interim belt”

🚨BIG NEWS🚨

Caio Borralho says he Heard Dricus Du Plessis may have a broken shin from training low kicks and could be out for 7 Months 😳

“The Natural” mentions he doesn’t know for sure

Caio mentions Chimaev Fight will only happen with Interim belt on the line

Per @AgFight pic.twitter.com/YpwS4g99dB
— Kevin (@realkevink) April 23, 2025

With UFC 317 approaching, this news threw everything into chaos. Borralho, of course, wasn’t just sharing this information out of concern for Du Plessis. He had his own agenda. The Brazilian immediately positioned himself as the logical replacement to fight Chimaev for an interim belt. It wouldn’t be the first time a fighter used injury news to advance their own career. The fight game is as much about opportunity as it is about fighting skill.

Dricus Du Plessis Clears Up Injury Rumors

Dricus Du Plessis has finally addressed the swirling rumors head-on. The champion took to social media platform Instagram with a picture of himself and a caption that cleared all 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.”

Dricus du Plessis says he is NOT injured and has NOT pulled out of any fight 😮@dricusduplessis added a fight announcement will be 'coming soon' 👀🏆 pic.twitter.com/ZCGI3VQhH6
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) April 24, 2025

Dricus Du Plessis dismissed all these injury rumors and clarified that he had not signed any contract with the UFC for June. This response has UFC fans relieved that the fight (probably with Khamzat Chimaev) appears to be back on track, though many remain skeptical until they see both men actually step into the octagon on fight night.

(Image Credit: Dan Hamilton – Imagn Images)

Caio Borralho

Dricus Du Plessis

Khamzat Chimaev

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!