UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis has issued a statement clarifying his current health status and the timeline for his next fight.
Speculation about a potential injury to the champion circulated this week, fueled by prospective title challengers like Khamzat Chimaev and Caio Borralho suggesting Du Plessis was unavailable to defend his belt. Du Plessis directly addressed these rumors via a statement shared on social media Thursday.
“Okay, so everyone had their opinions and rumors and stories about a shin break and injuries etc. I found it all very entertaining, unfortunately none of it is true. Myself and the 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.”
While Du Plessis did not provide an exact date for his next title defense announcement or the fight itself, his comments indicate he plans to compete again in 2025.
The South African fighter last defended his championship in a rematch against Sean Strickland at UFC 312 in February. Du Plessis (23-2) secured a unanimous decision victory over Strickland. This followed his first title win, a fourth-round submission over Israel Adesanya, also at UFC 312. Du Plessis currently holds a perfect 9-0 record in the UFC.
It is widely expected that Du Plessis` next opponent will be either the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev or Caio Borralho. Chimaev remains unbeaten in 14 professional bouts, with a high percentage of finishes, while Borralho is on a 17-fight unbeaten streak, including a 7-0 record within the UFC.
