It hasn't taken long for UFC middleweight Khamzat Chimaev to seemingly agree to a new matchup amid talk of an apparent injury to champion Dricus Du Plessis.
The undefeated Chechen contender looked set for his first title opportunity on MMA's biggest stage this summer after he breezed past the great Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi last October.
But while reports placed his clash with Du Plessis on the UFC 317 card during International Fight Week in late June, Kevin Iole revealed that an injury to the South African is set to delay his third defense.
"Borz" was quick to corroborate the news with a frustrated post on social media, and he doesn't appear keen to wait for the champ's recovery before returning to the cage.
Fellow top contender Caio Borralho reacted to the news by expressing interest in facing Chimaev instead. By the sound of things, that interest is not one-sided...
"Khamzat said yes!" Borralho wrote on X. "The only thing that makes sense is the Interim belt! This fight is gonna be bigger than him vs Dricus! Marks my words"
It remains to be seen whether such a bout would also be of interest to the UFC higher-ups.