Dricus du Plessis will face Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City on July 18, with both fighters looking to strengthen their position in the middleweight division.
The South African enters the fight with a 23-3 professional record and will be competing for the first time since losing the UFC middleweight title in August.
Du Plessis built his championship run on a mix of striking and grappling, recording victories by both knockout and submission throughout his career.
He has also proved that he can remain standing for over five rounds, having headlined several major UFC events during his rise to the top of the division.
Usman, meanwhile, moves further into his middleweight campaign after establishing himself as one of the most successful welterweights in UFC history.
The Nigerian-American holds a 21-4 record and spent years at the top of the 170-pound division, where he defended the title multiple times.
His wrestling remains one of the strongest parts of his game, though he has shown his capability as a striker in recent outings.
The fight pairs two fighters who have earned a name for themselves in the franchise. Du Plessis has generally found success when he is able to work at range and mix his striking with opportunistic grappling exchanges.
To win, Usman might have to focus more on takedowns and clinch work, moves he has become renowned for, especially during his welterweight days, when he reigned at the top of the division.
A win for Du Plessis would put him back into the discussion for another shot at the middleweight title.
Usman’s victory would represent his biggest result since moving up to 185 pounds and could quickly move him into title fight contention in a new division.
This will be one of the most interesting match-ups from the middleweight division in a while, and it has the potential to ultimately lead to a reshuffling of the pecking order. But that greatly depends on the outcome of the bout.
