Overview
- Dricus du Plessis posted on Instagram on Tuesday saying his side signed a bout contract for the rumored July 18 Paycom Center main event but that the opponent has not signed on their end.
- Multiple outlets have linked the opponent to former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, though the UFC has not formally announced the matchup.
- Sportsbooks have already released odds for the proposed fight, listing du Plessis as the favorite and Usman as the underdog despite the lack of an official UFC confirmation.
- Du Plessis framed the delay as a pay and commitment dispute, writing that the other side hesitated to sign what he called a 'show purse,' and Usman has not publicly responded.
- If finalized, the bout would mark Usman’s return to middleweight and could reshuffle the 185-pound title picture, while du Plessis seeks to rebuild after losing the belt at UFC 319.