Dricus du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman Headlines UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City

Dricus du Plessis and Kamaru Usman will collide in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City, the promotion announced ahead of its 781st event and 23rd card of 2026.

Du Plessis enters this middleweight contest as the division's second-ranked contender and the seventh-ranked fighter pound-for-pound. The 32-year-old South African, who trains out of Team CIT, carries a 23-3-0 record into his fifth UFC main event. Fighting out of a switch stance, the six-foot-one "Stillknocks" brings a six-inch reach of 76 inches and a well-rounded offensive game — he lands 5.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and adds consistent wrestling pressure at 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Usman, meanwhile, makes his 11th UFC main event appearance. The 39-year-old American, nicknamed "The Nigerian Nightmare," fights for Kill Cliff FC and holds a 21-4-0 career record. Standing six feet tall with an identical 76-inch reach, Usman is the more accurate striker of the two at 52 percent, and his wrestling credentials are formidable — he averages 2.82 takedowns per 15 minutes. The two-division intrigue here is notable: Usman is currently ranked eighth at welterweight, making this a cross-divisional matchup as the bout is contested at middleweight.

Why it matters

• Du Plessis is ranked second at middleweight and seventh pound-for-pound, meaning a strong showing could push him back into title contention.
• Usman moves up from welterweight, where he ranks eighth, testing himself against elite middleweight competition at age 39.
• Both fighters share an identical 76-inch reach and switch stance, setting up a technically intriguing mirror matchup.
• Oklahoma City hosts a UFC event for just the third time, and this marks the 16th Paramount+ UFC Fight Night overall.