UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has claimed that Kamaru Usman needed to be persuaded by the UFC to accept a fight against him. Du Plessis made the comments while explaining the background to the matchup.
UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has revealed that the promotion had to work to persuade Kamaru Usman to agree to their upcoming fight, with du Plessis speaking publicly about the behind-the-scenes negotiations that led to the matchup being made.
Du Plessis, 32, holds the UFC middleweight title and carries a record of 23-3-0. Ranked second in the division and seventh pound-for-pound, the South African out of Team CIT has built a reputation as one of the most active strikers in the sport, landing 5.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He also adds a credible wrestling dimension, averaging 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, he fights out of a switch stance.
Usman, fighting out of Kill Cliff FC, enters the bout at 21-4-0. The 39-year-old American, known as The Nigerian Nightmare, is ranked eighth in the welterweight division, making this a cross-divisional matchup as he steps up to middleweight. Usman brings elite wrestling credentials, averaging 2.82 takedowns per 15 minutes, and posts a striking accuracy of 52 percent on 4.36 significant strikes landed per minute. He shares the same six-foot frame and 76-inch reach as the champion.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis puts his middleweight title on the line against a former welterweight champion moving up in weight
- Usman's apparent reluctance, as described by du Plessis, adds an unusual dynamic to the buildup
- Both fighters share identical reach and switch stances, setting up a closely matched physical contest
- A win for Usman would mark a remarkable cross-divisional title capture; a du Plessis victory would further cement his standing in the pound-for-pound rankings
