Dricus du Plessis delivered a commanding performance on Saturday night, defeating former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman by unanimous decision in the UFC Oklahoma main event after five rounds of relentless pressure and sharp striking.
Du Plessis Controls the Fight Early
The middleweight champion settled into the contest almost immediately, making full use of his size and reach. Du Plessis established his jab, mixed in heavy low kicks, and repeatedly found a home for his right hand during the opening round.
Usman had brief success attacking the body and looked to bring the fight into his wrestling game, but his early takedown attempts were shut down. Du Plessis answered with crisp uppercuts, powerful combinations, and a head kick before closing the round in control.
The momentum only grew in the second frame. A crushing knee buckled Usman’s legs, and du Plessis continued to punish him with accurate jabs, hooks, and high kicks from both stances. Whenever Usman tried to clinch or wrestle, the South African consistently worked free and returned to striking range.
Usman Shows Heart but Can’t Slow Champion
Usman refused to back away despite absorbing heavy damage. He continued to target the body and searched for openings with his jab, but du Plessis remained one step ahead throughout the fight.
The third round featured a more measured pace, though du Plessis continued landing the cleaner and harder shots. Usman briefly completed a takedown late in the round, but du Plessis immediately returned to his feet before any meaningful control could be established.
Needing a dramatic turnaround in the championship rounds, Usman came out aggressively in the fourth. His momentum was short-lived after another head kick from du Plessis left him unsteady. The champion followed with hard punches while once again denying another takedown attempt.
Champion Cruises to Wide Decision
Usman continued to fight until the final horn, finishing the bout with an aggressive flurry as he searched for a late breakthrough. Du Plessis stayed composed behind a disciplined guard and avoided any serious trouble during the closing exchanges.
After 25 minutes, all three judges scored the contest in favor of du Plessis, capping off a dominant title defense. His striking, improved takedown defense, and ability to maintain pressure across five rounds proved too much for the former champion to overcome.