Dricus du Plessis enters UFC Oklahoma City with something he has not had to deal with in nearly a decade: a loss.
The former UFC middleweight champion returns to the Octagon on Saturday night to headline UFC Oklahoma City against former welterweight king Kamaru Usman. It will be his first appearance since dropping the 185-pound title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319, a defeat that snapped an eight-year unbeaten run.
Du Plessis Still Motivated by Pain of Defeat
Before running into Chimaev, Du Plessis had built one of the division’s most impressive streaks. The South African climbed through the middleweight ranks, defeated several former champions, and eventually captured UFC gold.
The loss to Chimaev changed that path, but it also reignited his motivation.
“I kind of forgot how it felt.”
“I absolutely hate it. I hate losing, I hate not being a champion. I’m a guy that’s the best in the world — I deserve a title. I have to have that title.”
Du Plessis admitted the setback stayed with him long after the fight ended. For him, that emotional response was part of what comes with competing at the highest level.
“It stung for quite a while.”
“It stung for a month after that fight. And if it didn’t sting like that, it would have been a problem — it means I didn’t appreciate it.”
A Crucial Test in the Middleweight Division
Usman enters the contest moving up from welterweight and nearing the later stages of his career. Still, his wrestling credentials remain among the best the sport has seen.
That is exactly what makes the matchup appealing for Du Plessis.
As he begins his climb back toward title contention, the former champion is looking for more than a win. He wants to show that the performance against Chimaev was a setback, not a roadmap for future opponents.