The extremely anticipated middleweight title combat between South Africa’s UFC champion Dricus du Plessis and undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev might not occur as quickly as followers hoped.
In line with veteran MMA reporter Kevin Iole, Du Plessis is reportedly injured, placing his UFC 317 important occasion slot in critical doubt.
Whereas the UFC hasn’t formally confirmed something, the timing couldn’t be worse.
The showdown was anticipated to headline Worldwide Struggle Week this June in Las Vegas – a marquee occasion on the UFC calendar.
Now, all indicators level to the bout being pushed to later this yr.
“I’m listening to Dricus du Plessis is injured,” Iole wrote in a chunk about Islam Makhachev.
“If that’s correct, a bout between Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev couldn’t headline IFW.”
Du Plessis, 31 final fought on 9 February 2025 at UFC 312 when he defended his title towards American Sean Strickland, successful by way of an unanimous factors determination in Sydney, Australia.
Chimaev, who will flip 31 on 1 Might, was final in motion at UFC 308 towards Robert Whittaker on 26 October 2024 in Abu Dhabi when he gained by way of submission within the first spherical.
Dricus du Plessis’s camp will little question verify – or deny – any harm, quickly.
Return to motion
The UFC might now lean on light-weight champ Islam Makhachev to step in and carry the June card.
That will mark his return to motion since defending his belt in dominant trend final October.
For Du Plessis, this might be his first setback since claiming UFC gold in early 2024.
For Chimaev, it’s one other bump within the highway after a dominant however considerably stop-start run by way of two weight courses.
And for followers?
It’s simply tough. This matchup had fireworks written throughout it.
UFC 317 nonetheless has Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Kara-France for the flyweight title, however UFC high brass will possible want one other blockbuster identify to save lots of the occasion.
Keep tuned: UFC playing cards are by no means brief on surprises!
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