Dricus du Plessis Levels Up Against Usman at UFC OKC

Dricus du Plessis turned in one of his sharpest performances to date against Kamaru Usman at UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City on July 18, but questions linger about whether the South African truly leveled up or simply exploited a fading opponent moving up in weight.

Du Plessis wobbled Usman in nearly every round with knees that disrupted takedown attempts and a headkick that left the former welterweight champion unsteady for much of the fight. MMA Mania's Tim Edwards credited the middleweight titleholder with following a smart gameplan and using excellent technique, noting that Usman still managed to take a round with his striking despite the lopsided scorecards. The age and size advantages were undeniable — du Plessis stands seven years younger and considerably bigger at middleweight — but his restraint and fight IQ impressed observers who expected a more reckless finish attempt.

What Usman's Excuses Tell Us About His Future

After the loss, Usman revealed he fought with compromised vision from a punch that struck his eye, later adding that a torn pectoral muscle hampered his performance. The MMA Mania panel dismissed the complaints as standard post-fight rationalization. Jesse Holland wrote that fighters often struggle to accept defeat and use excuses to convince themselves rather than fans, while Thomas Myers noted that every fighter enters the cage with some injury and called the vision complaint ridiculous. Edwards offered a more measured take, saying the vision issue was a legitimate byproduct of getting punched in the eye and not a foul claim.

The middleweight picture remains murky. Nassourdine Imavov holds wins over Israel Adesanya and Jared Cannonier but could face a long wait if Sean Strickland's shoulder injury keeps him sidelined into 2027. Brendan Allen and Joe Pyfer are dark horses in the top five, while Khamzat Chimaev's status as a former champion without a single defense complicates any immediate rematch talk. Du Plessis likely needs one more signature win to silence critics who point to his lopsided loss to Chimaev at UFC 328.

Usman, meanwhile, may need to decide whether another run at 170 pounds makes sense or if retirement looms after back-to-back setbacks at middleweight. He looked sharp against Stephen Buckley earlier this year, suggesting he still has tools left at welterweight where the size gap would not work against him. The UFC has not announced Usman's next move.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Mania Mailbag: How good is Dricus du Plessis, really?