“The Nigerian Nightmare” Kamaru Usman will get one of many largest exams of his late-career run on Saturday, July 18, when he meets former UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis within the five-round fundamental occasion of UFC Battle Evening 281 at Paycom Heart in Oklahoma Metropolis. The bout is about at 185 kilos and places two former champions in a combat with clear title implications.
The Nigerian-American arrives with a 21-4 MMA file and a resume that locations him among the many defining UFC welterweights of his period. Usman received the 170-pound title by defeating Tyron Woodley in 2019, then made 5 profitable defenses, together with wins over Colby Covington twice, Jorge Masvidal twice and Gilbert Burns. His run included a 19-fight profitable streak throughout his professional profession, with 15 UFC victories, earlier than Leon Edwards ended the streak in 2022. He’s celebrated as one of many biggest African-born champions in UFC historical past.
Away from the cage, Usman is MelBet‘s world ambassador, a partnership constructed on shared values of self-discipline, management and the pursuit of excellence. On Saturday, although, the main focus returns to a easy query: can Usman flip a second middleweight look into the beginning of one other title push, or will du Plessis make Oklahoma Metropolis the launch level for his personal return?
Kamaru Usman’s Middleweight Title Ambitions Face Main Take a look at In opposition to Dricus du Plessis
Usman has already made the transfer to middleweight as soon as, dropping an in depth choice to Khamzat Chimaev on quick discover in 2023. This time, the 39-year-old athlete has a full camp and an opportunity to indicate that his wrestling, clinch strain and disciplined placing can translate in opposition to a a lot bigger former 185-pound champion. A win would shortly put Usman into the combination for one more championship run, which is a shock given the three-fight skid he carried into his return win over Joaquin Buckley. This time, although, at middleweight.
Du Plessis, 32, just isn’t right here to function a well-known title on Usman’s comeback path. The South African owns a 23-3 file and went 9-1 within the UFC whereas constructing his title run. He captured the middleweight belt from Sean Strickland in January 2024, defended it in opposition to Israel Adesanya with a fourth-round submission, then beat Strickland once more by unanimous choice at UFC 312.
His title reign ended in opposition to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 final August, making Saturday a key likelihood for du Plessis to get again into the title race. He’s troublesome to organize for as a result of he can pressure chaotic exchanges with a background as a South African Ok-1 Beginner Champion, touchdown damaging pictures and attacking constantly. His profession tally consists of 9 knockouts and 11 submissions.
For the Nigerian-born Usman, it is a legacy combat with a sensible reward. Beating a latest middleweight champion might make him a severe possibility close to the highest of a division now led by Sean Strickland, who lately defeated Chimaev for the throne. For du Plessis, stopping one of many sport’s most completed welterweights would reinforce his place among the many main contenders at 185 kilos.
Saturday’s fundamental occasion has a bit of additional chunk as a result of it’s removed from an ordinary contender combat. Usman is making an attempt to show he can nonetheless make an actual run at a second UFC title in a brand new weight class, whereas du Plessis desires to indicate that his loss to Chimaev was a setback slightly than a slide. One man is chasing one other chapter whereas the opposite is seeking to get his place again on the entrance of the road. Each males are in a must-win place heading into Saturday night time.
