Kamaru Usman says Dricus Du Plessis fight was mentioned, not offered

Kamaru Usman says the UFC never officially offered him a fight with middleweight Dricus Du Plessis before the promotion announced the matchup for UFC Oklahoma on July 18.

The former welterweight champion told his Pound 4 Pound podcast that Du Plessis was floated as a potential opponent but never presented as a done deal. "And then DDP was mentioned, not really offered, but mentioned, and I said, yeah, if that's … I just need something that gets me to the title," Usman said, per MMA Mania.

Usman wanted Islam Makhachev title shot instead

Usman, 39, had been pushing for a fight with current welterweight champion Islam Makhachev since February. The promotion instead booked Makhachev to defend the 170-pound belt against Ian Garry at UFC 330 next month in Philadelphia. Usman said he even pitched a quick turnaround with Du Plessis at UFC 327 in Miami before learning the bout would land in Oklahoma. "I said, Okay, let's [fight Du Plessis] soon at [UFC 327 in] Miami, I even asked that," he continued. "And then he was like, 'Yeah, Miami's too soon, he might not be ready.' And so, it is what it is. So I thought the fight was off, it wasn't gonna happen."

Du Plessis claimed earlier this week that Usman dragged his feet on signing the contract. Usman denied the characterization and said the announcement blindsided him. "And then finally, I guess it was announced. I'm like, 'Well, shit, I guess it's happening, let me go ahead and prepare,'" he said. Usman added that he still wants to join the champ-champ club and that the opponent no longer matters.

Du Plessis lost the middleweight title to Sean Strickland at UFC 321 in January. Usman has dropped three straight fights at welterweight, most recently to Leon Edwards at UFC 286 in March 2023. The Oklahoma City card does not yet have a confirmed main event.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Kamaru Usman caught off guard by UFC Oklahoma, claims Dricus Du Plessis fight was ‘mentioned’ but ‘not offered’