A battle of former UFC champions will headline the upcoming UFC Oklahoma City card.
Announced during Saturday’s UFC Vegas 119, Dricus Du Plessis (23-3) will take on Kamaru Usman (21-4) at the event, set for July 18, 2026 at the Paycon Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Given that’s just under a month away, it’s a rather late announcement for a main event, but at least the Fight Night card is getting a little star power.
Du Plessis, a South African known as “Stillknocks,” has not competed since losing his 185lb title to Khamzat Chimaev in August of last year. DDP had defended the belt twice, against Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, after winning it from Strickland at UFC 297 in January 2024 in Toronto.
Prior to joining the UFC, Du Plessis held welterweight gold in Poland’s KSW, and both welterweight and middleweight titles in South African promotion EFC.
Kamaru Usman has just once victory since 2021, a unanimous decision win over Joaquin Buckley last June at 170lbs. The former UFC welterweight champ made his 185lb debut one fight prior, in a losing effort against Khamzat Chimaev. Prior to that, he’d lost back-to-back title fights at welterweight opposite Leon Edwards.
One man will be getting some redemption next month, as the UFC returns to Oklahoma City for the third time. The following match-ups have been reported for the event:
- Dricus du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman
- Jared Cannonier vs. Christian Leroy Duncan
- Kevin Holland vs. Jacobe Smith
- Alden Coria vs. Stewart Nicoll
- Brad Tavares vs. Marc-André Barriault
- Chase Hooper vs. Mitch Ramirez
- Veronica Hardy vs. Dione Barbosa
- Alvin Hines vs. Allen Frye Jr.
- Felipe Franco vs. Levi Rodrigues Jr.
- Austin Bashi vs. Jose Miguel Delgado
- Tommy McMillen vs. Alberto Montes
- Fatima Kline vs. Tabatha Ricci
- Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani vs. Ko Seok-hyeon
