Updated

Updated · MMA Fighting · Jul 21

Du Plessis Dominates Usman Over 25 Minutes, Sparking UFC Oklahoma City Matchmaking Debate

Updated

Updated · MMA Fighting · Jul 21

Du Plessis Dominates Usman Over 25 Minutes, Sparking UFC Oklahoma City Matchmaking Debate

Q: Is this lopsided loss the final chapter for legendary champion Kamaru Usman, or does he have one last run left?

This does not look like Kamaru Usman’s final chapter, but it does look like the end of him as a realistic middleweight title threat. The loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC Oklahoma City was decisive: Usman was outpointed over five rounds, hurt multiple times, and beaten on all three scorecards. At 39, with four losses in his past five fights, that naturally fuels retirement talk. But the broader evidence points the other way. Usman went the full 25 minutes, stayed competitive enough to avoid a stoppage, and afterward gave no indication he was done. He said he remains open to fighting at 170 or 185 depending on the opportunity, and his public comments since the event have emphasized going “back to the drawing board,” not walking away. UFC CEO Dana White also rejected the idea that this performance proved Usman is finished, arguing the context matters: he was facing one of the best middleweights in the world and giving up size. That size gap was obvious against du Plessis and makes another serious run at 185 hard to envision. If Usman has one last run, it is far more likely at welterweight. He is still a credible name, still durable, and still valuable in meaningful fights against ranked contenders or former champions. A return to 170 offers a more realistic path to relevance than staying at middleweight. So the loss was probably not the end, but it likely reset Usman’s future from championship favorite to veteran trying to make one final push in his natural division.

Q: After his dominant win, will Dricus du Plessis get his title trilogy, or will a new contender challenge Strickland?

A new contender appears more likely to get the next shot at Sean Strickland, even though Dricus du Plessis made a strong case for a trilogy. Du Plessis helped himself significantly by dominating Kamaru Usman at UFC Oklahoma City, winning a clear unanimous decision and reasserting himself as a top middleweight. He is the No. 2-ranked contender, has already beaten Strickland twice, and immediately called for another title fight. On merit alone, he has a legitimate argument. The complication is that du Plessis is already 2-0 against Strickland, with the second win viewed by some as decisive enough to reduce demand for a third meeting. Daniel Cormier publicly questioned the fan appetite for an immediate trilogy and pointed instead to Nassourdine Imavov, who is on a five-fight run and is widely seen as overdue for a title opportunity. That makes Imavov the cleaner booking for the UFC right now. Multiple reports around the event framed him as the most logical fresh challenger, especially with Khamzat Chimaev’s immediate path clouded by both his recent loss to Strickland and talk of a move to light heavyweight. So while du Plessis has likely secured himself another title shot soon, the most probable next step is Strickland vs. Imavov, with du Plessis positioned to face the winner later. If the UFC prioritizes merit and rivalry over novelty, the trilogy could still happen next, but the balance of evidence currently favors a new challenger.

2 articles · Updated · MMA Fighting · Jul 21

Dricus du Plessis’ lopsided 25-minute win over Kamaru Usman headlined UFC Oklahoma City and set up fresh debate over both former champions’ next opponents.
Mike Heck and Jed Meshew centered their latest matchmaking show on whether du Plessis moves toward another marquee middleweight fight and what viable path remains for Usman after the defeat.
Christian Leroy Duncan also entered the post-event conversation after beating former title challenger Jared Cannonier in the co-main event.
Chase Hooper’s first-round submission of Mitch Ramirez, along with wins by Fatima Kline and Tommy McMillen, rounded out the main-card futures discussed after Saturday’s event.

Sources

MMA Fighting21h ago

Mike Heck, Jed Meshew Discuss Dricus du Plessis, Kamaru Usman Future After UFC Oklahoma City

Yahoo Sports21h ago

On To the Next One: What's next for Dricus du Plessis, Kamaru Usman after UFC Oklahoma City? - Yahoo Sports

Is this lopsided loss the final chapter for legendary champion Kamaru Usman, or does he have one last run left?

After his dominant win, will Dricus du Plessis get his title trilogy, or will a new contender challenge Strickland?

Can Christian Duncan's unique fighting style carry him to a title against the middleweight division's elite wrestlers?

Sources

2 total

MMA Fighting21h ago

Mike Heck, Jed Meshew Discuss Dricus du Plessis, Kamaru Usman Future After UFC Oklahoma City

Yahoo Sports21h ago

On To the Next One: What's next for Dricus du Plessis, Kamaru Usman after UFC Oklahoma City? - Yahoo Sports

Du Plessis Dominates Usman Over 25 Minutes, Sparking UFC Oklahoma City Matchmaking Debate

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