Du Plessis vs Usman to headline UFC Fight Night Oklahoma

A pivotal middleweight clash between former champions Dricus du Plessis and Kamaru Usman will headline UFC Fight Night this Saturday, July 18, at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The bout marks the first fight for du Plessis since losing the middleweight title and serves as Usman's return to the 185-pound division.

Du Plessis enters as the betting favorite, with current consensus odds implying a win probability of roughly 70 percent for the South African fighter. The market has tightened since opening, however, with money coming in on Usman, who is now priced as a significant underdog. Analysts attribute the line to several factors, including du Plessis's experience at middleweight, a seven-year age gap in his favor, and Usman's recent move up from welterweight. Usman, a former welterweight champion, is coming off a decision win at 170 pounds in June 2025, while du Plessis last competed in August 2025, losing his title to Khamzat Chimaev.

The stylistic matchup centers on grappling. Du Plessis's most recent loss saw him controlled for long stretches by Chimaev's wrestling, a vulnerability his upcoming opponent is uniquely equipped to exploit. Usman is renowned for his...