Dricus du Plessis faces Kamaru Usman at UFC Oklahoma City

Former UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis will face former welterweight titleholder Kamaru Usman in the main event at UFC Oklahoma City on July 18, the promotion announced Saturday night.

The card marks the UFC's return to the Paycom Center for the first time in nearly a decade. Du Plessis fights for the first time since dropping the 185-pound belt to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 last August, per MMA Fighting. He won the title by beating Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in January 2024, then defended it twice before the Chimaev loss — stopping Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and edging Strickland in the rematch at UFC 312.

Usman moves to middleweight for second title run

Usman makes the jump to middleweight with designs on becoming a two-division champion. He snapped a near four-year losing streak with a lopsided decision over Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta in June 2025. The Nigerian Nightmare previously tested himself at 185 on short notice, dropping a narrow decision to Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2023.

Both fighters enter the bout coming off losses to Chimaev, with du Plessis looking to bounce back and Usman chasing his first middleweight statement win. Weigh-ins are scheduled for July 17.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Dricus du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman headlines UFC Oklahoma City