Dricus Du Plessis returned to the win column in convincing style at UFC Fight Night Oklahoma City on Saturday night, defeating Kamaru Usman by unanimous decision with scores of 50–45, 49–46, and 49–46 from the cageside judges. The South African looked sharp, composed, and fully in control from the opening bell, silencing any doubts that lingered after his title loss last year. In his post-fight Octagon interview, Du Plessis made it crystal clear that his goal remains reclaiming the UFC middleweight title he held not long ago.
Background
Du Plessis dropped the UFC middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 last year in a wrestling-heavy performance that ended his eight-year unbeaten streak. The South African had not lost since a knockout defeat to Roberto Soldic in 2018, a run that had carried him through multiple former champions and all the way to the middleweight throne.
The UFC Fight Night Du Plessis vs Usman bout was his first appearance inside the Octagon since that setback. For a stretch, Du Plessis had looked like one of the UFC’s great middleweight champions, following in the footsteps of legends like Anderson Silva and Israel Adesanya until he ran into Khamzat Chimaev, who took away his title in a completely one-sided performance. Saturday night was his chance to answer back.Kamaru Usman, on the other hand, came into this fight as one of the most accomplished welterweights in UFC history. The former UFC Welterweight Champion moved up to middleweight for this contest, looking to use his wrestling base and championship experience to hand Du Plessis his second consecutive defeat.
Fight Details
The speed of Du Plessis was an early X-factor, along with his significant size advantage against the former welterweight champion. Over the course of five rounds, Du Plessis consistently found high-impact right hands, mixing in heavy step-in knees and head kicks to hurt Usman repeatedly throughout the fight.
A huge size and power difference became apparent as early as the first round. Du Plessis was able to hurt Usman several times during those opening five minutes. “Stillknocks” then started landing big knees in the second frame before showing he was more than a match for Usman when the fight hit the floor.
Du Plessis landed a total of 123 strikes in the fight, including two takedown attempts, while Usman had 24 seconds of ground control, landed 88 strikes, and attempted seven takedowns all of which were successfully defended by Du Plessis. By the championship rounds, Du Plessis had taken control in nearly every area of the fight, and the judges had little difficulty scoring it in his favor.
Du Plessis was defensively sound against Usman’s minimal takedown attempts, ultimately earning the unanimous decision victory in dominant fashion.
Dricus Du Plessis UFC Record
Prior to this fight, Du Plessis’s UFC journey had included wins over Markus Perez, Trevin Giles, Brad Tavares, Darren Till, Derek Brunson, Robert Whittaker, Sean Strickland twice, and Israel Adesanya a list that reads like a who’s who of the middleweight division.
His Dricus Du Plessis UFC record now stands at 24 wins and 3 losses. The only losses on his professional record came from Gareth McLellan early in his career, Roberto Soldic in 2018, and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 last August. What makes this Dricus Du Plessis UFC record remarkable is the quality of opponents he has beaten including two former undisputed champions.
The Du Plessis vs Adesanya fight remains one of the most celebrated moments in his career. Du Plessis submitted Adesanya via rear-naked choke at 3:38 of the fourth round at UFC 305 to retain his UFC middleweight title, showcasing both his physical dominance and his technical submission ability. That Du Plessis vs Adesanya performance set the tone for just how dangerous “Stillknocks” could be at the highest level.
Kamaru Usman
Usman returned to the middleweight division for this fight with much more preparation time than his previous venture at 185 pounds, a short-notice majority decision loss to Chimaev three years ago. He came in believing his wrestling pedigree and championship experience could replicate what Chimaev had done to Du Plessis overwhelm him on the ground.
Usman’s plan was no secret. He sought to exploit Du Plessis’s vulnerability to takedowns, the same weakness that Chimaev had exposed. However, Du Plessis prepared specifically for this threat, defending all seven of Usman’s takedown attempts across five rounds. Usman showed toughness and durability throughout, but the size, speed, and volume of Du Plessis proved too much to overcome.
Kamaru Usman’s record now moves to 21 wins and 5 losses. Despite the setback, the former welterweight king remains one of the most respected fighters in UFC history, and many believe Saturday’s performance showed he can still compete at the very top of the middleweight division.
Quotes
Speaking in his post-fight Octagon interview, Du Plessis was direct about what he wants next: “When it comes to the title shot, I said a win wouldn’t give me a title shot.” He acknowledged the performance mattered as much as the result, and by all accounts, Saturday night delivered both.
Ahead of the fight, Du Plessis had made his case for a title shot clearly: “Absolutely, because I have defended my belt against two of the best fighters in the world, the current champion being one of them. It will all come down to the winner and the fashion that you do this.” After five rounds of dominant striking, few would argue his performance fell short of title-shot worthy.
In the lead-up to this fight, Du Plessis had spoken openly about how much the Chimaev loss bothered him: “I absolutely hate it. I hate losing, I hate not being a champion. I’m a guy that’s the best in the world I deserve a title.”
Du Plessis Last Fight Before Oklahoma City
For context, the Du Plessis last fight before this one was the most painful of his career. Du Plessis lost the middleweight title at UFC 319, falling to Khamzat Chimaev via unanimous decision 44–50, 44–50, 44–50. Chimaev got his first takedown within 30 seconds and did not look back until the gold was around his waist. Du Plessis was able to get a takedown and some back control late in Round 5, but was never close to turning the tide.
The lopsided loss ended an 11-fight win streak for Du Plessis, who had been a perfect 9–0 since joining the UFC in 2020. That Du Plessis last fight against Chimaev exposed his wrestling defence, and heading into Oklahoma City, many wondered whether he had truly addressed those holes. Saturday night suggested he had.
Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev The Loss That Lit the Fire
The Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev fight at UFC 319 now stands as the most important defeat of his career not because it defined him, but because of what came after. Du Plessis celebrated Chimaev’s performance on social media while also promising the loss had lit a fire under him.
Du Plessis gave up 12 takedowns and 22 minutes of control time in that fight numbers that no champion wants on their record. But rather than crumbling under the pressure of his first UFC loss, he spent nearly a year rebuilding his game. The improved takedown defence on display against Usman, where he stuffed all seven attempts, suggests that the Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev loss was a painful but productive lesson.
Du Plessis Next Fight What Happens Now?
The most pressing question after Saturday is: what is Du Plessis next fight? The answer, according to nearly everyone in the sport, should be a title shot against current middleweight champion Sean Strickland.
Du Plessis had been vocal that the winner of his fight with Usman deserves to fight Strickland next. He noted that he had already defeated Strickland twice including once for the championship and that his track record gives him a legitimate claim to be next in line.
Considering Du Plessis has already beaten reigning champion Sean Strickland twice, this win may catapult him into a title fight sooner than later. The dominant nature of his performance against Usman a former multi-time UFC champion makes it very difficult for the UFC to look past him when it comes to booking Strickland’s next title defence.
Whether the Du Plessis next fight lands in a Pay-Per-View main event slot later this year remains to be confirmed, but the direction is clear. “Stillknocks” wants his belt back, and Saturday night was his strongest argument yet.
Impact
This result carries significant weight beyond the win-loss column. Du Plessis is not just back in the title picture he is arguably the frontrunner for the next middleweight title shot. By defeating a former UFC welterweight champion who moved up specifically to derail him, Du Plessis showed that the Chimaev loss was an aberration, not a reflection of his ceiling.
The UFC middleweight division is now one of its most stacked in years. With Khamzat Chimaev holding the belt, Sean Strickland as the top contender, and Dricus Du Plessis back in the mix, fight fans can expect a compelling series of matchups at 185 pounds throughout the remainder of 2026. Du Plessis’s collection of big-name wins Strickland twice, Adesanya, Whittaker, and now Usman gives him a résumé that is impossible to overlook.
Conclusion
Dricus Du Plessis came to Oklahoma City with a point to prove, and he proved it convincingly. The UFC Fight Night Du Plessis vs Usman main event was not close. It was a statement performance from a fighter who looked motivated, sharp, and hungrier than ever to reclaim what was taken from him in Chicago last August.
With his Dricus Du Plessis UFC record now at 24–3 and a dominant win over Kamaru Usman firmly on his résumé, “Stillknocks” has done everything the UFC could ask of a returning former champion. The Du Plessis next fight should be a world title rematch and if this performance is anything to go by, the middleweight division’s champion should be taking that matchup very seriously.
FAQs
Who won Dricus Du Plessis or Kamaru Usman?
Dricus Du Plessis won the fight. All three cageside judges scored it in his favour, with a wide margin that reflected just how one-sided the contest was. Usman had moments of activity particularly in his takedown attempts but Du Plessis defended every single one and consistently out-struck the former welterweight champion across all five rounds. It was a clear, uncontested victory for “Stillknocks.”
Is Du Plessis still a UFC champion?
No, Dricus Du Plessis is not currently the UFC middleweight champion. He lost the title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in August 2025 in a dominant one-sided performance that ended his 11-fight win streak. However, after his convincing win over Kamaru Usman at UFC Fight Night Oklahoma City, Du Plessis is widely considered the number-one contender for the middleweight title. He has already beaten current champion Sean Strickland twice, making him the most experienced challenger in the division. His next fight is widely expected to be a title rematch.
What happened in Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev?
At UFC 319 in August 2025, Khamzat Chimaev put on a wrestling masterclass to defeat Du Plessis and claim the UFC middleweight title. Chimaev secured a takedown within the first 30 seconds and consistently controlled Du Plessis throughout the fight, earning scores of 50–44 on all three judges’ cards a nearly perfect scorecard. Du Plessis gave up 12 takedowns and over 22 minutes of ground control in that fight. It was the only time he has been dominated inside the Octagon, and it ended his historic unbeaten run in the promotion. He used the loss as motivation heading into his fight with Usman.
