Dricus Du Plessis beats Kamaru Usman in UFC Fight Night main event
Dricus Du Plessis delivered a masterclass performance to defeat fellow former champion Kamaru Usman by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City.
The South African fighter overwhelmed his opponent with relentless power and striking volume over five gruelling rounds.
Judges at the Paycom Center scored the middleweight contest 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46 in favour of the 30-year-old.
Title redemption in sight
I’m back in the winner’s circle, baby. Let’s get my belt back.
Dricus Du Plessis
This dominant victory marks a successful return to the Octagon for the former middleweight king.
He previously surrendered his 185-pound crown in a taxing five-round decision to Khamzat Chimaev last August.
Before that singular setback, the Pretoria-born athlete boasted an unblemished 9-0 promotional record that included two title defences.
A tough transition at middleweight
For the defeated contender, this challenging bout represented only a second career appearance in the 185-pound division.
The former long-reigning welterweight titleholder opted to move up a weight class after missing out on a bout against Islam Makhachev.
Despite securing a momentary takedown in the third round, the Nigerian-born veteran could not overcome the early structural damage.
The 37-year-old absorbed significant punishment throughout, including a brutal right hand to the temple and multiple perfectly timed knees.
Striking superiority seals the victory
The number-two ranked middleweight established his range immediately with a punishing series of jabs and leg kicks.
He continued to dictate the pace deep into the championship rounds by landing heavy head kicks and slick combinations.
A desperate late surge of heavy haymakers in the final seconds proved insufficient to rescue the contest for the struggling veteran.
Thank you, Kamaru Usman, for bringing the best out in me, and thank you for giving your life up over so many years to entertain these fans.
Dricus Du Plessis