Du Plessis batters Usman over five rounds in UFC Fight Night rout
Dricus Du Plessis beat Kamaru Usman by unanimous decision in Oklahoma City, winning 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46 on the judges’ cards.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
Dricus Du Plessis turned a meeting of ex-UFC champions into five rounds of pressure, power and problems for Kamaru Usman on Saturday night.
ESPN reported that Du Plessis defeated Usman by unanimous decision in the middleweight main event of UFC Fight Night at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The judges scored it 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46 for Du Plessis, according to ESPN.
The result moved Du Plessis to 24-3, while Usman fell to 21-5, ESPN’s Fightcenter listed. Du Plessis, ranked No. 2 at middleweight by ESPN, was fighting for the first time since losing the division title to Khamzat Chimaev by five-round decision in August 2025.
ESPN reported that Du Plessis had opened his UFC run at 9-0 before that Chimaev loss, a stretch that included two title defenses.
Usman, the former long-reigning welterweight champion, was making only his second appearance at 185 pounds, according to ESPN. His first middleweight bout came on short notice against Chimaev in October 2023, when he lost a three-round majority decision after a competitive showing.
Du Plessis takes control early
ESPN reported that Du Plessis settled into range quickly, landing jabs and leg kicks in the first round before a right hand to Usman’s temple briefly shook him.
The South African kept the fight at his rhythm in the second round. According to ESPN, he hurt Usman with a knee to the head as Usman changed levels, then connected with another knee up the middle that landed on the chin.
Usman found a better spell in the third, ESPN reported, scoring his first takedown with roughly a minute left. The opening did not last long, as Du Plessis returned to his feet without absorbing much damage on the mat.
The fourth round swung back to Du Plessis. ESPN said he landed two hard head kicks and repeatedly connected with two-punch combinations, while another Usman takedown attempt was stopped.
Usman entered the fifth round likely needing a finish, ESPN reported. Instead, he was hurt again by a head kick and backed to the fence. He later pushed forward with punches as Du Plessis slowed, and the fight closed with Usman throwing wide shots in the final seconds.
How Usman landed at middleweight
ESPN reported that Usman had spent the first half of the year seeking a welterweight title fight with 170-pound champion Islam Makhachev. He moved up for Du Plessis after the UFC booked Makhachev’s first defense against Ian Machado Garry in August.
On the same UFC Fight Night card, ESPN’s Fightcenter listed Christian Duncan as a unanimous-decision winner over Jared Cannonier in a middleweight bout.
Fightcenter also listed Chase Hooper submitting Mauricio Ramirez by rear-naked choke at 2:15 of the first round in a lightweight fight, and T. McMillen stopping A. Montes by punches at 3:29 of the third round in a featherweight bout.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.