The main event of UFC Oklahoma City on Saturday saw Kamaru Usman return to the middleweight division, taking on ex-185lb champ Dricus Du Plessis.
DDP was making his return after losing his title to Khamzat Chimaev last year. And after a bit of a feeling out process, South Africa’s Du Plessis stung Usman with a right hand about halfway through the opening round. That was followed by a combo that seemed to give Usman additional issues, then a kick. Usman landed a right hand in response; Du Plessis fired a jab, and later an uppercut that missed the mark.
A big kick by Du Plessis opened round two, but didn’t really put Usman in too much danger. A moment later, however, a DDP knee rocked Usman. A punch behind the ear compounded Usman’s problems. Usman was simply not adjusting well to the power of Du Plessis. A head kick, blocked though it was, had Usman moving back. Another knee connected as Usman moved in, and he was hanging onto a leg for dear life.
Usman would stay on Du Plessis for a bit, before they’d break and move back to striking range. There, the South African had a solid edge, and another right hand stumbled the former welterweight- though he drew a pause complaining of an eye poke on what was clearly a closed fist. After officials watched it back, they ordered the fight to continue, and Usman had not recovered. He was under fire, split open, briefly fell, and came up into a weak takedown attempt that Du Plessis shook off with ease. A head kick backed up Usman. He’d survive the round, but it wasn’t looking good.
Kamaru Usman opened round three with a kick, then another; game as he was, he was looking worse for the wear. And every punch landed by Du Plessis still seemed to wobble Usman. DDP, however, appeared to take his foot off the gas a bit in round three, in addition to slipping a couple of times. It took until the final minute, but Usman finally changed levels and landed a big double-leg takedown. While he couldn’t keep Du Plessis on the mat, it had to be a morale boost, especially in a much closer frame.
Round four opened similar to the third, with Usman back in the fight, but a high kick by DDP that was blocked still wobbled Kamaru. Du Plessis went back on the hunt, firing that kick twice more. Usman survived, fired a leg kick, but ate a massive right hand. He closed the distance for the takedown, but DDP fought that off, and Usman was again, as in rounds one and two, in a heap of trouble. The kicks, and the right hand, were adding up. And Usman’s takedown attempts were becoming slower, more telegraphed.
Despite having got himself back in the fight, Kamaru Usman headed to the fifth frame likely trailing and in need of a finish. His corner told him as much between rounds to underscore the point.
It was Du Plessis, however, landing another kick to the body in round five. Usman stayed in front of him; DDP fired a jab, forcing him back. Two minutes in, a low blow by DDP landed, glancing from leg to cup, with Usman needing a moment to recover. On the restart, Du Plessis uncorked another head kick, then another. The second hurt Usman again. A third followed. Usman was under fire! Punches, a fourth kick. Usman would survive, and DDP actually shot a takedown of his own that was stuffed. Du Plessis might have emptied the tank chasing that finish.
With the final minute of the fight fast approaching, Usman went on the attack. DDP was sucking air. A right hand connected for Usman, but there was just 45 seconds left. Du Plessis wasn’t hurt, even if he was tiring. Usman needed to do damage, and quick. He’d unload in the final 10 seconds with DDP retreating and covering up, but Kamaru just didn’t have enough time left.
Dricus Du Plessis came away with a clear decision win, Usman taking only one round with two of the judges.
Calling Usman a warrior he’d respect for the rest of his life, Du Plessis criticized “guys laying on top of other guys” to win decisions, then exclaimed that it was time to get his belt back. Currently, Sean Strickland is expected to rematch Khamzat Chimaev for middleweight gold, though the bout has not been officially announced.
Official Result: Dricus Du Plessis def. Kamaru Usman by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
