Overview
- Du Plessis beat Kamaru Usman by unanimous decision on July 18, with judges scoring the five-round main event 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46.
- Fight coverage and stats show Du Plessis controlled striking, repeatedly wobbled Usman and successfully stuffed takedown attempts throughout the contest.
- Usman disclosed on the Pound 4 Pound podcast that he fought with a torn pectoral, an injury his co-host Henry Cejudo cited as a likely factor in the failed wrestling attempts.
- Du Plessis’ coach dismissed Usman’s post-fight complaints about alleged fouls and said a finish was possible, while Du Plessis has publicly pushed for another middleweight title opportunity.
- At age 39 and with four losses in his last five fights, Usman says he will sit down with his coaches to decide whether to continue, a choice that could alter upcoming matchmaking and the middleweight pecking order.