Two former UFC world champions collide as Dricus Du Plessis faces Kamaru Usman on UFC Fight Night at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
Du Plessis (23-3-0) makes his first appearance since losing his belt to Khamzat Chimaev last August, while Usman (21-4-0) moves to 185lbs as he bids to start a run to become a two-weight champion.
Dricus Du Plessis v Kamaru Usman Tips Preview
Du Plessis had won all nine of his UFC bouts before running into Chimaev last time out and the South African has two wins over current champion Sean Strickland, who defeated Chimaev earlier this year.
Du Plessis likes to push the pace on his opponents and, while he is often criticised for his lack of traditional technique, his effectiveness can rarely be questioned.
The 32-year-old has six KO/TKO and two submission finishes in the UFC, including inside-the-distance victories against Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, Derek Brunson and Darren Till.
Usman racked up five defences as Welterweight champion between 2019 and 2021, with memorable wins over both Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal.
The now 39-year-old lost his title via a final-round head kick KO to Leon Edwards, in a fight he was dominating.
Losing the rematch to Edwards in London on the scorecards, Usman stepped up to 185lbs at short notice in what was a close three-round majority decision defeat to Chimaev in 2023.
The "Nigerian Nightmare" moved back down to 170lbs for his last outing in June 2025, dominating Joaquin Buckley over five rounds.
Although 11 of Usman's 16 UFC wins have come via decision, he has one submission and four knockouts, including against the aforementioned Masvidal and Covington.
With the UFC reported to be interested in making a rematch between Strickland and Chimaev next, both men will believe they can insert themselves into the conversation with a win here.
Dricus Du Plessis v Kamaru Usman Tale of the Tape
Dricus Du Plessis | Kamaru Usman | |
Record: | 23-3 | 21-4 |
Age: | 32 | 39 |
Birthplace: | South Africa | Auchi, Nigeria |
Height: | 6' 1" | 6' 0" |
Stance: | Orthodox | Orthodox |
Last Fight: | Loss (UD) v Khamzat Chimaev (Aug 25) | Win (UD) v Joaquin Buckley (Jun 25) |
KO%: | 39.1% (of wins) | 42.9% (of wins) |
Alias: | Stillknocks | Nigerian Nightmare |
Dricus Du Plessis v Kamaru Usman Top Tip
Dricus Du Plessis to win via KO, TKO or Decision @ 41/20
Du Plessis brings an aggressive, come forward style to his match-ups, averaging 5.18 significant strikes per minute.
Although dominated for long periods when losing his title to Chimaev, Du Plessis did rally in the final round, becoming the first to take down the Chechnyan fighter as he chased a finish.
It's not the first time he has utilised offensive wrestling, taking down Adesanya four times and Strickland six times in their first encounter.
Du Plessis averages 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes, compared to Usman's 2.79 over the same timeframe.
Usman's grappling base has been a cornerstone of his success, but whether he can have the same nullifying effect that Chimaev did against Du Plessis remains to be seen.
The South African has the more effective striking and can win the kickboxing battle, particularly against a 39-year-old Usman in this weight class.
"Stillknocks" is the pick to accumulate enough damage to potentially force a late finish, or secure the win on the scorecards.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
