The UFC has officially announced that Dricus Du Plessis will defend against Kamaru Usman on July 18. The bout will be contested at middleweight.
Dricus Du Plessis will put his middleweight title on the line against Kamaru Usman on July 18, the UFC has officially confirmed, setting up one of the most anticipated bouts of the year.
Du Plessis, known as "Stillknocks," enters the fight as the reigning middleweight champion and sits at number seven in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 32-year-old South African carries a record of 23-3-0 and trains out of Team CIT. Fighting out of a switch stance, he stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and brings genuine finishing danger from multiple positions. He lands 5.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and also adds a takedown threat, averaging 2.22 per 15 minutes.
Usman, nicknamed "The Nigerian Nightmare," moves up in weight for this challenge, stepping from welterweight — where he is currently ranked eighth — to take on the champion at 185 pounds. The 39-year-old, who fights out of Kill Cliff FC and holds a 21-4-0 record, is a decorated combat sports veteran. He shares the same six-foot frame and 76-inch reach as Du Plessis, fights out of a switch stance, and is known for his striking precision, connecting at 52 percent accuracy while landing 4.36 significant strikes per minute. His wrestling credentials are well established, with 2.82 takedowns per 15 minutes over his career.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis makes a title defense against one of the most accomplished fighters ever to compete in the UFC, now moving up a weight class
- Usman's superior striking accuracy and elite takedown rate could test the champion's defensive wrestling at a new weight
- A victory for Usman would mark a remarkable career achievement, capturing a second divisional title at 39 years old
- Du Plessis's high-volume striking and submission threat give him tools to counter Usman's pressure across all phases of the fight
