Full Breakdown
Du Plessis Dominates Usman in UFC Oklahoma City Main Event
7/19/2026, 12:42:35 PM
Event Summary
On July 18, 2025, UFC Fight Night at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City featured a middle-weight showdown between former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Du Plessis secured a unanimous-decision victory, with the judges scoring the bout 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46. The win marked du Plessis’ first fight since losing his middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev in August 2025 and his first UFC defeat after a 9-0 start and two successful title defenses.
Background & Title Implications
Du Plessis entered the Octagon ranked No. 2 in the UFC middleweight division, having previously defeated current champion Sean Strickland twice in title fights. His loss to Chimaev left him without a belt but still positioned him as a top contender. A victory over Usman—who moved up to middleweight after a short-notice loss to Chimaev in 2023 and a recent unanimous-decision win over Joaquin Buckley in June 2025—could propel du Plessis into a direct title shot against Strickland.
Usman, 39, sought to join the two-division champion club, hoping a win would accelerate his pursuit of a middleweight championship. Both fighters have prior wins over Strickland (du Plessis at middleweight, Usman at welterweight in 2017), adding a narrative layer to the bout.
Fight Statistics
- Judges’ scores: 50-45, 49-46, 49-46 for du Plessis.
- Strikes landed: du Plessis maintained a high volume of jabs, leg kicks, and power punches throughout five rounds, rocking Usman multiple times.
- Knockdowns: du Plessis delivered a hard right hand to Usman’s temple in round 1 and a series of knees and head kicks that staggered the former champion.
- Records after the fight: du Plessis improved to 24-3; Usman fell to 21-5.
Official Reactions
UFC officials highlighted du Plessis’ “clinic” performance, noting his control of pace and pressure for nearly the entire fight. Post-fight, du Plessis emphasized his desire for a title opportunity, stating that his dominant display should earn him a championship bout. Usman expressed frustration with the wide margin on the scorecards, questioning the judges’ perspective while acknowledging du Plessis’ toughness.
Criticism of the Middleweight Landscape
Analysts described the division as “a mess,” observing that the belt has changed hands rapidly—Khamzat Chimaev dethroned du Plessis, Sean Strickland then captured the title from Chimaev, and du Plessis has already beaten Strickland twice. The competitive depth makes it difficult for any fighter to maintain long-term dominance, a point underscored by the fight’s outcome.
Verbatim Quotes
- “You guys deserve fights like these, not guys lying on top of other guys to get some dumbass decision win,” — Dricus du Plessis, post-fight interview
- “Thank you, Kamaru Usman, for bringing the best out in me, and thank you for giving your life up over so many years to entertain these fans.” — Dricus du Plessis
- “I'm back in the winner's circle, baby.” — Dricus du Plessis
- “I said a win wouldn't get me a title shot, but damned if a performance like that would give me a title shot," Du Plessis said.” — Dricus du Plessis
- “I'm no sorry loser, but I mean 50-45? What were the judges watching?” — Kamaru Usman
What’s Next
With the victory, du Plessis is positioned as a leading contender for Sean Strickland’s middleweight title. UFC matchmaking will likely schedule a title bout in the coming months, while Usman is expected to reassess his middleweight trajectory after the loss.
