Kamaru Usman Wants Title Shot Following UFC OKC Win
Usman seeks a title shot if he beats Du Plessis, while Polymarket lists Du Plessis as a 70% favorite.
- On Saturday, July 18, former champions Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman collide at UFC Oklahoma City in a middleweight bout with significant implications for the 185-pound title picture.
- Dricus Du Plessis enters following a loss to Khamzat Chimaev that ended his 11-fight winning streak, aiming to reassert dominance using the raw power that secured wins over Sean Strickland, Israel Adesanya, and Robert Whittaker.
- Returning after a 13-month layoff, Usman makes his first full-camp appearance at middleweight, while market odds favor Du Plessis at 70% with a 62% chance the bout extends beyond 4.5 rounds.
- Seeking to jump-start his 2026 campaign, Usman stated he wants a title shot after Saturday's event at either 185 lbs or 170 lbs, viewing the middleweight move as a strategic step.
- When asked if the 185-pound division offered an easier path, "The Nigerian Nightmare" wouldn't say that's the case, citing tough contenders like Jared Cannonier, Nassourdine Imavov, Caio Borralho, and Robocop.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Kamaru Usman eyes one more run at UFC gold ahead of Dricus Du Plessis showdown
Kamaru Usman believes victory over former middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis could move him one step closer to another UFC title. In an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia. com, the former welterweight champion reflects on his lengthy layoff, his pursuit of a second world title, the challenge posed by Du Plessis, why every fight now has to be meaningful, and what he wants people to remember about his career.
Kamaru Usman Wants Title Shot Following UFC OKC Win
Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman says that he wants a title shot after winning at UFC Oklahoma City this Saturday.Usman takes on Dricus du Plessis in a five-round middleweight headliner at UFC OKC this weekend. Following a long and successful UFC career, mainly fought at welterweight, Usman is moving up to middleweight at age […] The post Kamaru Usman Wants Title Shot Following UFC OKC Win appeared first on HEAVY.
UFC Fight Night Preview: Du Plessis vs. Usman Headlines Massive Middleweight Showdown
UFC Fight Night Preview: Du Plessis vs. Usman Headlines Massive Middleweight Showdown MSB Fight Club | The UFC returns to Oklahoma City on Saturday night with one of the most intriguing Fight Night cards of 2026 as former UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis meets former longtime welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in a five-round middleweight main event. The card marks the UFC’s first trip to Oklahoma City in nearly a decade and could res…
For ex-champs Kamaru Usman and Dricus du Plessis, UFC Oklahoma City looks like a no-man's land
They should’ve called this weekend’s fight card in Oklahoma City, “UFC Fight Night: No Man’s Land,” because that’s kind of what it feels like. Not only is it happening in the middle of the country just a week after the Conor McGregor vortex known as UFC 329, it features a pair of fighters with abstract bearings in the UFC ranks — the South African former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis, and the former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. …
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
