Adesanya Praises Du Plessis' Win Over Usman, Calls It DDP's Best Showing Yet

Q: What does Du Plessis's victory mean for the future of the UFC's increasingly competitive middleweight title picture?

Du Plessis’s win puts him back at the front of the middleweight title race and makes the division even more volatile. The result matters because it was not just a win over a big name in Kamaru Usman, but a performance widely viewed as one of du Plessis’s best. Israel Adesanya’s praise for his sharper positioning, cleaner shot selection and improved timing reinforced the idea that du Plessis is evolving, not merely surviving at the top level. After losing the belt to Khamzat Chimaev in 2025, this was the kind of statement victory he needed to re-establish himself as a championship-level force. It also creates a strong case for a title shot against current champion Sean Strickland. Du Plessis already owns two wins over Strickland, which gives the UFC a clear storyline for a trilogy bout and gives du Plessis a credible claim that he has earned another chance at the belt. The main obstacle is whether the UFC prioritizes a Strickland-Chimaev rematch first. More broadly, the victory confirms how unsettled the division has become. The belt has moved from Adesanya to Strickland to du Plessis to Chimaev and back to Strickland in a short span, with no long-term dominant champion. Du Plessis’s return adds another proven former titleholder to an already crowded top tier, increasing pressure on matchmakers and making the next title fight one of the UFC’s most consequential decisions at 185 pounds.

Q: After a decisive loss at middleweight, what is the next career move for former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman?

Kamaru Usman’s most sensible next move is to return to welterweight, not stay at middleweight. After the one-sided decision loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC Oklahoma City, Usman has not announced a firm plan. He said he is still open to opportunities at either 170 or 185 pounds, and Dana White said he does not believe Usman should retire and that the former champion has earned the right to choose his own path. But the evidence points toward welterweight. Usman was outsized by du Plessis, a proven former middleweight champion, and he is now 0-2 at middleweight. At 39, taking on elite natural 185-pounders appears to be a difficult route, especially after a fight in which du Plessis’ size, pace and power were major factors. Even in defeat, Usman showed enough competitiveness to suggest he can still be relevant, just likely in his natural division. The immediate priority is recovery. By all indications, Usman is expected to go home, rest, heal and then decide on weight class and opponent. If he drops back to welterweight, the likely path is a non-title fight against a ranked or fringe-ranked opponent rather than an immediate title shot. Kevin Holland has been floated as one plausible matchup, particularly if Usman falls outside the top 10 and the upper tier of the division remains booked. So while retirement is not the expectation, a reset at welterweight looks like the clearest and most practical career move.

3 articles · Updated · MMA Fighting · Jul 21

Saturday’s UFC Oklahoma City main event drew unusually warm praise from Israel Adesanya, who called Dricus du Plessis’ decision win over Kamaru Usman the best he has seen from the middleweight champion.
Adesanya said du Plessis looked sharper technically—better positioned in exchanges, with improved shot selection and a well-timed knee against Usman’s single-leg attempt.
The reaction marked a notable shift given Adesanya’s long friendship with Usman and his once-heated rivalry with du Plessis over their claims to African MMA identity.
Adesanya said the matchup was still a win for African MMA, arguing that two African fighters headlining—even on a Fight Night—can widen the sport’s talent pool across the continent.