Kamaru Usman and Dricus Du Plessis made the size gap hard to miss during their UFC Oklahoma City staredown. The UFC released a faceoff clip before their middleweight main event. Du Plessis looked like the naturally larger man, while Usman, a former longtime welterweight champion, held his ground at close range. The fight headlines UFC OKC on July 18, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The UFC’s own caption listed the bout for 8 p.m. ET on Paramount+.
When the dust settles… @DricusDuPlessis vs @Usman84kg [ #UFCOKC LIVE JULY 18 at 8pmET on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/UzK25QIdYK
— UFC (@ufc) July 15, 2026
Usman Explains Why He Took The Middleweight Fight
Usman entered fight week at 21-4. He won the UFC welterweight title in 2019, defended it five times, and opened his UFC run with 15 straight wins before the Leon Edwards rematch changed his title reign. His rebound came in June 2025, when he beat Joaquin Buckley across five rounds at UFC Atlanta. Du Plessis is 23-3 and went into this matchup after losing the middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319. The booking put Usman at middleweight for the Oklahoma City main event, then Du Plessis later claimed Usman needed a UFC push before he signed for the fight.
Usman made the comments during his UFC OKC media-day interview with reporters. The full media-day video is embedded below.
Usman said the move was not about finding an easier lane.
Just the opportunity. I like to joke and say I’m a money weight fighter now, so hey, if it’s up at welterweight, I’ll do it. If it’s up at middleweight, I’ll do it. If it’s up at light heavyweight, I might do it.
He said he wanted the Islam Makhachev fight at welterweight, but UFC steered him toward Du Plessis instead.
I obviously wanted the Islam fight. We talked about that, and I thought that was what was going to be next. But unfortunately, in things like this, the company kind of has a say, a big say in this, and they felt this was an opportunity.
Usman then named the two fights that make most sense if he beats Du Plessis.
Sean Strickland. I mean, that makes sense. That’s pretty easy. It’s either Sean Strickland or Islam if Islam is still the champion, which I assume he will be.
The Chimaev comparison matters because both men have shared that opponent. Usman lost a short-notice middleweight bout to Chimaev in 2023, while Du Plessis later lost his belt to Chimaev. Asked whether Chimaev’s control of Du Plessis gave him confidence, Usman pushed back on the idea that the fight is only about wrestling.
Different styles make fights, different fighters make fights. And the biggest thing that I don’t think people really understand unless they’re actually in there is it’s the spiritual aspect of it, too. You have to deal with his spirit.
He fights hard, he’s big, he’s strong, and he’s going to come into the fight. And whatever he gives me, that’s the spiritual dance. Whatever he gives me, I’m going to take and try to exploit.
Usman also made it clear he knows this late-career run has a hard limit.
I know I don’t have a ton of these left, so I’m just grateful for each and every one that I have now and going out there making the biggest and best memories that I can.
The staredown showed the physical risk. Du Plessis brings the size and recent middleweight title history. Usman brings the welterweight championship resume, the Buckley rebound, and another chance to push into a second title picture.
