Kamaru Usman had skilled Dricus du Plessis’ punching energy years earlier than their upcoming middleweight most important occasion, recalling a sparring session that left an impression on him. The previous UFC welterweight champion mentioned du Plessis’ putting throughout a 2024 episode of the “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo.
“He’s not the cleanest, however there may be, there’s gotta be energy, I keep in mind,” Usman mentioned. “It’s been some time, it’s been a number of years however I sparred him method again within the day.” The remark got here as Usman and Cejudo assessed du Plessis’ strengths throughout his middleweight title reign.
Kamaru Usman Recollects Sparring Dricus du Plessis: “I Knew He Hit Exhausting”
Usman mentioned he had already recognized the South African’s power throughout that health club work. “I all the time remembered, I knew he hit arduous, he swings arduous, however now I really feel like he’s assured in that energy,” Usman added. His evaluation suits du Plessis’ UFC report, which incorporates stoppage wins over Robert Whittaker, Derek Brunson and Darren Till, plus a fourth-round submission of Israel Adesanya.
Du Plessis’ putting has typically drawn consideration due to its uncommon rhythm and large assaults. However his outcomes at middleweight present that opponents will be pressured into troublesome exchanges when he closes distance, varies his entries and retains a excessive tempo. He compiled a 9-0 UFC begin earlier than shedding a five-round unanimous determination to Khamzat Chimaev in August 2025.
The outdated sparring reminiscence provides a unique layer to Usman’s preparation for July 18, when he faces du Plessis at 185 kilos within the UFC Battle Evening 281 headliner at Paycom Middle in Oklahoma Metropolis. Usman’s expertise as a longtime 170-pound champion brings elite wrestling, clinch stress and five-round expertise, however he can be going through a former middleweight titleholder who has competed on the weight by means of his UFC run.
Each fighters have shared the cage with Khamzat Chimaev, however their outcomes supply contrasting reference factors. Usman accepted Chimaev on quick discover at UFC 294 in October 2023 and misplaced a majority determination after surviving a troublesome opening spherical, then competing intently by means of the ultimate two rounds.
Du Plessis met Chimaev with the UFC middleweight title on the road in August 2025, however was managed for lengthy durations by the unbeaten Chechen fighter and misplaced a five-round determination. That comparability will naturally gas questions round whether or not Usman’s wrestling could cause related issues when he meets du Plessis at middleweight.
Usman has already shared a optimistic view of du Plessis’ toughness when discussing his bout with Chimaev in 2024. He mentioned Chimaev may take du Plessis down and probably hold him there for a spherical, whereas questioning whether or not that may be sufficient to provide a end as a result of “Dricus may be very, very powerful.”
For Usman, he can not deal with the matchup as a wrestling-only task. He might want to navigate du Plessis’ punching vary and physicality earlier than he can work towards the clinch and takedowns throughout 5 rounds.
