Breaking News
UFC OKC Main Event LEAKED By Dricus Du Plessis?
The long-rumored UFC Oklahoma City main event between Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman may be hitting a roadblock, according to the reigning middleweight champion. Speaking recently about the rumored matchup, Du Plessis claimed the delay in making the fight official has nothing to do with him. The South African star says he signed his side of the contract weeks ago and is now waiting on Usman to do the same. According to Du Plessis, the hold-up is coming from Usman's camp, suggesting the former welterweight champion has yet to finalize the agreement despite ongoing speculation surrounding the bout. While neither the UFC nor Usman has publicly addressed the claim, Du Plessis' comments have only fueled fan interest in what could be one of the biggest fights of the year. Whether the contract dispute gets resolved remains to be seen, but for now, "Stillknocks" insists the ball is firmly in Usman's court.
When will this fight happen?
Expect the fight to take place as early as UFC OKC on July 18. If that doesn't happen, the next most likely date would be UFC 331 on September 12 in Philadelphia.
It was recently reported that Caio Borralho vs. Joe Pyfer was being targeted for that card, but Borralho has since undergone rib surgery and is no longer expected to face Pyfer. In theory, Dricus Du Plessis could step into that spot, but it appears the UFC is interested in positioning a potential DDP vs. Kamaru Usman matchup as a title eliminator.
If that's the case, the promotion could feature the fight as a three-round co-main or featured bout, especially if the card ends up being headlined by the heavily rumored women's title fight.
As for Usman, he appears to be searching for the quickest path back to championship contention. A victory over Du Plessis would almost certainly put him next in line for a title shot against either Sean Strickland or Khamzat Chimaev, assuming their anticipated rematch takes place beforehand and Chimaev emerges victorious.
How would this fight pan out?
I would expect this matchup to feature plenty of grappling exchanges, with Kamaru Usman looking to pressure Dricus Du Plessis against the cage, secure takedowns, and control the fight from top position while mixing in ground-and-pound.
For Du Plessis, the goal will likely be to keep the fight standing and allow his unique striking style to shine. DDP has found success throughout his UFC run with his awkward timing, powerful overhands, and sneaky uppercuts that often catch opponents off guard.
If you look back at Usman's most recent fight against Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta, Buckley found significant success late in the contest once he was able to keep the fight standing. He had a strong fourth round and largely controlled the fifth, exposing some of the challenges Usman faces when opponents can consistently deny his wrestling and force prolonged striking exchanges.
In a three-round fight, however, the matchup may favor Usman. If he can control the action on the ground for at least two of the three rounds, a 29-28 decision victory appears to be his most realistic path to winning.
For Du Plessis, a finish seems like the more likely route. His power, pressure, and unpredictable striking have troubled nearly every opponent he's faced. If he can keep the fight upright and force extended exchanges, a second- or third-round TKO could be his clearest path to victory.
Overall Thoughts
I wouldn't be surprised at all if this fight never ends up happening and Kamaru Usman instead takes a matchup against someone like Brendan Allen or Nassourdine Imavov in an attempt to secure a title shot.
A potential Dricus Du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman fight is one that fans have wanted to see ever since Du Plessis captured the middleweight title and later defeated Israel Adesanya at UFC 305. Much of the tension between the fighters stems from DDP's controversial claim that he was "the only real African champion," a statement that drew criticism from Usman, Adesanya, and Francis Ngannou.
The comments sparked years of back-and-forth between the fighters, with Usman being the most vocal after Du Plessis won the title. On multiple occasions, Usman continued to question and criticize DDP on his podcast, keeping the rivalry alive even as the two competed in different divisions.
Because of that history, this has quietly become one of the most intriguing non-title fights the UFC could book. The matchup carries genuine bad blood, championship implications, and a storyline that has been building for years. If the UFC can finally get both sides to agree on terms, it would likely be one of the most anticipated non-title bouts in recent memory.