Jorge Masvidal has weighed in on the upcoming clash between Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman, predicting one of the men must put in a perfect performance to come out on top.
Jorge Masvidal has offered his assessment of the upcoming middleweight showdown between Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman, singling out one fighter as needing a flawless outing to secure victory.
Du Plessis, 32, carries a 23-3 record into the matchup and sits at number two in the middleweight rankings, with a place at number seven on the pound-for-pound list underlining his status as one of the sport's elite. The South African out of Team CIT works from a switch stance, stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, and brings relentless pressure to go with it — averaging 5.18 significant strikes per minute and 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes, numbers that reflect an all-around threat few middleweights can match.
Usman, 39, holds a 21-4 record and is ranked eighth at welterweight, making this a notable step up in weight class. The Nigerian Nightmare is a switch-stance fighter standing an even six feet with an identical 76-inch reach to Du Plessis. He boasts a striking accuracy of 52 percent and averages 2.82 takedowns per 15 minutes, figures that speak to the wrestling-heavy blueprint that defined his long run at the top of the welterweight division.
Masvidal, the 41-year-old American Top Team veteran who carries a 35-17 record and a reputation for sharp tactical insight, weighed in with his view on how the fight will unfold — suggesting one man cannot afford a single lapse if he wants his hand raised.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis is a top-two middleweight and a pound-for-pound name; a loss would shake up the division's title picture
- Usman is moving up from welterweight, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the styles clash
- Both men are switch-stance fighters with near-identical reach, setting up a technically complex matchup on the feet and on the mat
