Dricus Du Plessis will headline UFC Oklahoma City on July 18, looking for a major bounce-back victory. The card streams live on Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET.
Dricus Du Plessis returns to the top of a UFC card on July 18 when he headlines UFC Oklahoma City, looking to rebound following a setback that dropped him to second in the middleweight rankings.
Du Plessis, known as "Stillknocks," carries a 23-3-0 professional record into the bout at age 32. The South African represents Team CIT and competes out of a switch stance, standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach. Ranked second in the middleweight division and seventh in the pound-for-pound standings, he remains one of the sport's elite 185-pound fighters despite the recent loss that now shapes this appearance as a must-win moment. His offensive output is among the most consistent in the division, with 5.18 significant strikes landed per minute and a striking accuracy of 48 percent. He also contributes on the ground, averaging 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a genuine threat across all phases of a fight.
Why it matters
- A victory would reinforce Du Plessis as a top contender and keep his path back toward middleweight title contention intact.
- At ranked second in the division, the outcome has direct implications for how the 185-pound title picture takes shape.
- His well-rounded skill set — volume striking, takedown ability, and submission threats at 0.7 attempts per 15 minutes — gives him tools to compete with virtually any style.
The card streams live on Paramount+ beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
