For a few tense weeks, fans weren’t sure if UFC 319’s headliner would survive the rumor mill. Dricus Du Plessis, the reigning middleweight champ, was rumored to be out with a serious shin injury. Talk of broken bones and six-month layoffs ran wild. And while some panicked, one man saw an opportunity, Caio Borralho. The Brazilian contender didn’t hesitate. He made it clear: if Du Plessis was out, he wanted in. In an interview with AG Fight, he confessed, “So I started posting on Twitter, and I think this fight will only happen if it’s for the interim belt. If it’s not for the interim belt, I think Khamzat himself won’t accept it.”

But once the South African rubbished those claims and with Dana White officially announcing that Du Plessis was still in, and that he would defend his title against Khamzat Chimaev, the questions turned to the man who tried to slide into the mix. So, what did ‘Borz’ make of Borralho’s bold play?

Khamzat Chimaev breaks his silence on Caio Borralho’s callout after securing UFC 319 bout against Dricus Du Plessis

During a recent conversation on the ‘Hustle Show’ with Adam Zubayraev and Tambi Masaev, Khamzat Chimaev was asked, “Listen, there was information that he’s injured, someone spread a rumor and immediately our old acquaintance Caio Borralho wanted to step in as a replacement. And you reacted very funny to it.”

As soon as the Brazilian stirred the pot, Chimaev went all in and even uploaded a picture from the duo’s previous training footage where the undefeated juggernaut had Barralho in a rear-naked choke. Turns out, the Chechen warrior understood it perfectly. How? He explained with a smile, “Caio is a good guy, honestly, I understand him. Wants hype, wants money. Fighting me guarantees him a million dollars. So if he fights someone else, how much will he earn, 200 thousand dollars?”

It’s a fair point. A matchup with Chimaev doesn’t just promise pain, it promises massive payouts owing to his incredible popularity. But ‘Borz’ didn’t stop there. With a jab of logic, he added, “So making 5 fights is better than 1 fight where he’d get beaten, probably better for him.”

So why the callout in the first place? That’s where the rumor storm comes in. For a moment, it really looked like Dricus Du Plessis was out for a long time. The Fighting Nerds leader even claimed that he heard the injury talk from “a reliable source that Dricus had been injured, but nothing was confirmed.”

Borralho even recalled seeing a cryptic post from Chimaev, calling Du Plessis “complete s–t”. For Borralho, that seemed like confirmation. So, he jumped on social media, made himself available, and lobbied for an interim title fight.

But now, with the UFC 319 fight officially set, Caio Borralho is out of the running, for now. After all, Chimaev has waited years for this moment. Since his UFC debut in 2020, he’s dealt with setbacks, injuries, illnesses, and long layoffs, but never a defeat. As for Borralho? Maybe he’ll get his million-dollar fight someday. But on August 16, it’s Chimaev vs. Du Plessis in the Windy City, and the storm’s just getting started!

‘Stillknocks’ takes aim at Chimaev as UFC 319 receives an official backup

Khamzat Chimaev may be undefeated inside the Octagon, but outside of it, his fight record has been a rollercoaster of canceled bouts and medical curveballs. COVID-19 nearly ended his career in 2021 as he announced his retirement due to lung complications, which he recovered from eventually. Then came more delays, forcing him out of a scheduled clash with Robert Whittaker in mid-2024. So when UFC 319 was announced with Chimaev as the challenger, fans held their breath. Would ‘Borz’ really make it to August 16?

As such, when the UFC recently confirmed that Nassourdine Imavov would weigh in as the official backup for the middleweight title fight in Chicago, the South African champion couldn’t help but fire off a salvo at Chimaev. Taking to social media, he joked, “Guess I’m fighting Nassourdine Imavov.”

Imavov, riding high after a stunning KO of Israel Adesanya, has been vocal about deserving a title shot. And while some argued Chimaev had already earned his turn, Imavov never let the spotlight fade. The UFC, it seems, isn’t taking any chances. With Imavov waiting in the wings and ‘Stillknocks’ firing shots before the walkouts even begin, UFC 319 is shaping up to be a chessboard of moving pieces.

Will it be the long-awaited war between Du Plessis and Chimaev? Or does Imavov swoop in from the shadows? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!