Kamaru Usman is making a move back up to the UFC middleweight division. The former welterweight champion will take on Dricus du Plessis on July 18, in the main event of UFC Oklahoma City Live From Paycom Center. This bout was announced during the UFC Vegas 119 live broadcast earlier tonight.
Dricus du Plessis’ last fought at UFC 319, where he was ragdolled for five rounds and dethroned by Khamzat Chimaev with ease. Kamaru Usman, on the other hand, last fought knockout artist Joaquin Buckley in 2025 and cruised to a dominant unanimous decision victory.
Usman wanted to fight the pound-for-pound king and reigning welterweight champion, Islam Makhachev, next. “The Nigerian Nightmare’s” plan was to get the 170-pound strap back in his possession and then move up to 185 pounds to attain 2-division glory in 2026. Even Makhachev, who considers Usman his hardest challenge, had shown interest in the matchup. However, the UFC had other plans. Islam Makhachev will now defend his title against Ian Machado Garry in the main event of UFC 330.
Kamaru Usman, on the other hand, will take on former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC Oklahoma City on July 18, as mentioned above.
Why the Kamaru Usman bout is really crucial for Dricus du Plessis?
Firstly, the Kamaru Usman vs. Du Plessis bout could be a major turning point for both fighters, as the winner would put his name in the mix for a middleweight title shot potentially later this year or early next year.
At 39, “The Nigerian Nightmare” is running out of time and has to hurry to make another championship push. Meanwhile, “Stilknocks” will be eager to work his way back up to the top and earn a title shot while Sean Strickland is still the UFC middleweight champion. Fans have already witnessed that “Tarzan” is an easy game for the South African. He has dethroned Strickland before, defeated him in a title rematch, and would gladly do it a third time.
If Du Plessis wants to become a two-time UFC middleweight champion, he stands a better chance of doing it before the belt changes hands and goes back to Chimaev or is captured by top contender Nassourdine Imavov.
For Du Plessis, the bout against Kamaru Usman is also an opportunity to showcase how much his takedown defense and overall grappling have evolved following his title loss to “Borz.”
