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Du Plessis vs. Usman Set as UFC Oklahoma City Main Event

A five-round middleweight clash resolving contract uncertainty with direct implications for the 185-pound title picture.

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Dricus du Plessis' next UFC fight has been revealed. Picture: Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC
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Overview

  • The UFC officially announced during the UFC Vegas 119 broadcast on Saturday that Dricus du Plessis will face Kamaru Usman in a five-round middleweight main event on July 18 at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
  • Du Plessis returns from a nearly yearlong layoff after losing the middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev in August 2025 and has publicly said he used the time to shore up his takedown defense.
  • Usman is moving up from welterweight after a June 2025 unanimous-decision win over Joaquin Buckley and is pursuing a second-division run late in his career.
  • Opening betting markets installed Du Plessis as a heavy favorite (BetOnline opened around -350 with DraftKings near -340) and the rest of the July 18 card is largely in place, including Jared Cannonier vs. Christian Leroy Duncan.
  • The winner of this matchup is likely to re-enter title discussions at 185 pounds and could change immediate contender dynamics for the middleweight belt while the UFC returns to Oklahoma City for the first time in nearly a decade.