Dricus du Plessis vs Kamaru Usman: Preview & Betting Tips

Image: User:Philippe3017 / Wikimedia Commons, CC0

South Africa's Dricus du Plessis meets Kamaru Usman in a middleweight clash that pits a natural 185-pounder against a former welterweight kingpin moving up. Du Plessis brings a 23-3 slate with nine knockouts and eleven submissions, while Usman enters at 21-4 with nine KOs of his own. The market has installed du Plessis as a heavy favourite, but Usman's pedigree makes this a compelling test of class versus size.

The fight takes place on Sunday, 19 July 2026.

Tale of the Tape

Dricus du Plessis

Odds: -334 (avg across books)

Record: 23-3-0

KO Wins: 9 (39%)

Age: 32

Height: 6ft1

Nationality: South Africa

Weight Class: 185 lbs

Kamaru Usman “The Nigerian Nightmare”

Odds: +255.33333333333334 (avg across books)

Record: 21-4-0

KO Wins: 9 (43%)

Age: 39

Height: 6ft0

Nationality: United States

Weight Class: 170 lb

Form & Styles

Du Plessis is a pressure fighter with a deep well of finishes on his résumé, capable of forcing the action both standing and on the mat. His submission game is particularly well-rounded, accounting for nearly half his victories. Usman built his reputation on relentless wrestling and cage control at welterweight, using superior conditioning and a grinding pace to break opponents. At 39 and carrying extra weight, the question is whether that engine still fires at middleweight or if the years and added bulk have dulled his trademark pace. Du Plessis will likely lean on his size advantage and look to impose early, while Usman needs to establish rhythm and avoid getting drawn into a brawl he can't sustain.

Best Odds

Prices below are the best market available across 9 bookmakers at time of writing. Always check the live price before placing a bet.

Dricus du Plessis: -310 (DraftKings)

Kamaru Usman: +265 (BetOnline.ag)

Prediction

The books have Dricus du Plessis as a clear favourite, and the logic is sound: he's the natural middleweight in his prime, and Usman's age plus the weight jump present real durability concerns. Du Plessis's finishing ability across disciplines gives him multiple paths to victory, and if Usman can't dictate position early the South African should find a way through. That said, writing off a fighter of Usman's calibre is foolish—elite wrestling and ring IQ don't vanish overnight, and one well-timed takedown sequence could swing the narrative. Expect du Plessis to press from the opening bell, but MMA has a habit of humbling certainties, and Usman's experience keeps this from being a formality.

Fight verified via ESPN UFC schedule: UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman. Date, fighters and matchup details on this page reflect the latest information from the cited source at time of writing.

Betting involves risk. 18+ only. Odds shown were correct at time of writing and are subject to change. When the fun stops, stop — BeGambleAware.org.