Overview

• Dricus Du Plessis publicly refuted claims of an injury, confirming he remains the middleweight champion and will defend his title at UFC 317.
• Rumors of an interim title fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Caio Borralho have been dismissed following Du Plessis's statement.
• Fighters and analysts, including Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen, criticized the idea of an interim belt, citing Du Plessis’s consistent activity as champion.
• The UFC is advancing a new rankings system in collaboration with Meta, addressing widespread criticism of the current rankings' transparency and fairness.
• Top contenders like Nassourdine Imavov and Belal Muhammad have voiced their claims for title opportunities, adding to the division's competitive tension.