UFC Oklahoma City to feature du Plessis vs Usman on July 18

A high-stakes middleweight bout between former champions Dricus du Plessis and Kamaru Usman is set to headline the UFC’s return to Oklahoma City on July 18. The event, taking place at the Paycom Center, marks the organization's first visit to the city in nearly a decade.

The fight was officially confirmed during a recent broadcast, finalizing a matchup that has been discussed for months. Du Plessis, the former middleweight champion from South Africa, last fought in August 2025, losing his title in a one-sided decision to Khamzat Chimaev. Kamaru Usman, the former longtime welterweight champion from Nigeria, last competed in June 2025, earning a unanimous decision victory over Joaquin Buckley.

For du Plessis, the fight represents a critical test and a deliberate step in his comeback. He stated that he specifically sought a matchup against an elite wrestler like Usman to address the grappling deficiencies exposed in his loss to Chimaev. "What's it going to mean for me to go out there and beat another striker? I've done that many times," du Plessis said. He added that a victory would demonstrate his improved wrestling and takedown defense.

Usman, meanwhile, is moving up to the...