Dricus du Plessis has revealed that Kamaru Usman needed to be persuaded by the UFC before agreeing to fight him. Du Plessis made the claim while discussing the matchup and the circumstances that led to it being made.
Dricus du Plessis has revealed that Kamaru Usman required persuasion from the UFC before he agreed to step into the cage with the South African middleweight contender.
Speaking publicly about how the matchup came together, Du Plessis claimed the promotion had to work to bring Usman on board, suggesting the former welterweight champion was not initially eager to accept the fight.
Du Plessis enters the bout ranked second in the middleweight division and seventh in the pound-for-pound standings. The 32-year-old from South Africa carries a record of 23 wins and 3 losses, fighting out of Team CIT in a switch stance. He stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and has built a reputation as a high-output finisher, landing 5.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also averaging 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Usman, 39, is moving up from welterweight for this contest, where he currently sits eighth in the divisional rankings. The Nigerian-American fighter holds a 21-4 record and trains with Kill Cliff FC. Also fighting out of a switch stance, he shares Du Plessis's 76-inch reach and brings strong credentials of his own, connecting at 52 percent striking accuracy with 2.82 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis is ranked second at middleweight; a win over a former welterweight champion could strengthen his divisional standing significantly.
- Usman moving up two weight classes adds an unusual dynamic, with questions around how his wrestling-based game translates against a live middleweight.
- Both fighters share identical reach and switch stances, setting up a closely mirrored physical matchup that could come down to timing and volume.
- Du Plessis's comments about Usman's reluctance add a psychological dimension to the buildup ahead of the bout.
