Dricus Du Plessis Beats Kamaru Usman by Unanimous Decision at UFC Fight Night

• South African fighter Dricus Du Plessis returned to winning ways against former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman on Saturday
• The 32-year-old entered the bout as the No. 2 middleweight contender following his title loss to Khamzat Chimaev last August
• Usman's loss extended a difficult recent run, with the 39-year-old now having dropped four of his last five fights

Dricus Du Plessis secured a unanimous decision victory over Kamaru Usman at UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City on Saturday, 19 July 2026, putting himself firmly back in contention in the middleweight division.

The South African, who entered the contest ranked No. 2 at middleweight, moved his professional record to 24-3-0 with the win. It marked his first outing since losing the UFC middleweight championship to Khamzat Chimaev last August, a defeat that ended a nine-fight winning streak inside the UFC.

Dricus Du Plessis eyes title shot

With the victory, Du Plessis has repositioned himself as a legitimate challenger for the middleweight belt. Current champion Sean Strickland now appears the likely next target for the 32-year-old South African.

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In his postfight interview, ''Stillknocks'' said he wants an opportunity to regain the belt. Strickland, whom Du Plessis has twice beaten, dethroned Chimaev at UFC 328 in May.

Du Plessis relied on his stand-up game to beat Usman, especially in the first two rounds during which he wobbled Usman several times. His best weapons throughout the fight were his right hand and head kick. Du Plessis outlanded Usman 136-92 in significant strikes.

Watch the clip below.

Kamaru Usman's slide continues

The result compounded a difficult recent stretch for Usman. The 39-year-old, a decorated former welterweight champion who held that title for over two years and made five successful defences, has now lost four of his last five bouts. Both of his defeats at middleweight came in back-to-back fashion, leaving his future in the division uncertain. His most recent win came against Joaquin Buckley in June last year.

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Dricus du Plessis’ Porsche impresses fans

Briefly News previously reported that Dricus du Plessis was spotted inside a luxurious Porsche 911 Turbo S. The car is a beauty and has caught fans' attention.

The Porsche 911 Turbo S features the brand’s signature wide Turbo body, aggressive rear styling, a full-width rear light bar with the PORSCHE badge, large air intakes, a sporty rear spoiler, and the famous quad exhaust setup.

Source: Briefly News