Du Plessis says Usman had to be 'convinced' to accept UFC OKC headliner

Dricus Du Plessis has revealed that Kamaru Usman required some convincing before agreeing to meet him in the main event of UFC OKC, with the middleweight champion suggesting the negotiations were not entirely straightforward on Usman's end.

Du Plessis, who holds a 23-3 record and carries the UFC middleweight title into the bout, has been one of the division's most active finishers. The 32-year-old South African fights out of a switch stance and brings considerable pressure, landing 5.18 significant strikes per minute with 48 percent accuracy. He also adds a consistent wrestling threat, averaging 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes. Currently ranked second at middleweight and seventh pound-for-pound, Du Plessis has established himself as one of the sport's elite fighters since emerging from South Africa's Team CIT.

Usman, 39, makes a notable move up in weight for this contest, stepping from welterweight — where he is ranked eighth — to challenge at middleweight. The former champion known as "The Nigerian Nightmare" carries a 21-4 record and brings polished fundamentals, connecting at a 52 percent striking accuracy rate while averaging 2.82 takedowns per 15 minutes. His wrestling base has long been among the sharpest in the sport, though this fight represents a significant shift in competitive circumstances given the divisional jump.

Why it matters

• Du Plessis puts his middleweight title on the line against a former welterweight champion moving up
• Usman's ranking sits at eighth in the welterweight division, making this a cross-divisional challenge with no direct title implications at 185 pounds beyond Du Plessis's belt
• Both fighters share identical reaches of 76 inches and switch stances, setting up a closely mirrored physical matchup
• Du Plessis's public comments about persuading Usman add an unusual pre-fight dynamic to the build-up