The aftermath of Conor McGregor’s tragic return has yet to sink in. Still, there’s no rest for the wicked, as UFC Fight Night will be hosted in Oklahoma City this weekend behind an epic main event between two former champions that will meet at UFC Oklahoma.
- DDP vs. Usman Best Bet 1: Usman +5.5 Handicap at 1.89 at ibet
- DDP vs. Usman Best Bet 2: Any Fighter Wins by Decision at 1.86 at ibet
- Find the best UFC odds here at ibet.
The former welterweight king, Kamaru Usman, continues his quest at 185 lbs when he challenges the former middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis.
Can the sheer strength and wrestling capabilities of Usman control this bout, or does the awkward yet successful mixed style of Du Plessis position him back in title contention? Find out with my latest breakdown, analysis, and UFC Oklahoma picks to play at ibet!
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UFC Oklahoma Main Event
Du Plessis vs. Usman: Tale of The Tape
| Dricus Du Plessis | Kamaru Usman | |
| Country | South Africa | USA |
| Age | 32 | 39 |
| Pro Record (Win/Loss) | 23-3 | 21-4 |
| KO/Submission | 9 KOs, 11 Submissions | 9 KOs, 1 Submission |
| Height | 6’1” | 6’0” |
| Reach | 76” | 76” |
| Win/Loss (Last 5) | L/W/W/W/W | W/L/L/L/W |
| Moneyline Price | 1.38 [+120] | 2.80 [+180] |
Inside the Octagon: Du Plessis vs. Usman Prediction & Analysis
DDP Cannot Be Judged on One Loss
People forget, man… Dricus Du Plessis’ rise to becoming the UFC middleweight champion was backed by a 9-fight win streak, 6 stoppages, and names like Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya, and Sean Strickland (twice). And yes, Khamzat Chimaev implemented a heavy wrestling game plan to dethrone the South African, but are we ready to judge DDP on this elite-level loss?
Overall, when it comes to elite competition, despite not looking the prettiest in the cage, Du Plessis knows how to win. He’s thrived on chaos and volume, pretty much the opposite of Usman, leading to the question: Will high-level wrestling once again be his downfall?
Is It Too Late for a Middleweight Debut?
All my uncs stand up. ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ is back, but this time, his control and wrestling will test the middleweight division. Aged 39, some will assume a run at middleweight is too little, too late, but regarding experience and an impressive resume, if anyone can defy Father Time, it might just be Usman.
Last time out, Usman dominated the young and athletic Joaquim Buckley, who was notably riding a six-fight win streak prior to the loss. We watched Usman dominate every round with the help of his offensive wrestling and control, thus turning the clock back to remind us how domineering a good night in the office can be.
We can highlight Usman’s red flags in the latter stages of his career. Still, with such impressive durability, less weight to cut, and an opponent susceptible to takedowns, we cannot count out another classic showing here.
UFC Oklahoma Du Plessis vs. Usman Betting Picks
Kamaru Usman Handicap (+5.5) at 1.89 [-112]
The chaotic style of DDP works for the right opponent, but if his foot is constantly on the gas versus Usman, I envision a takedown coming sooner or later. As we’ve already witnessed Du Plessis get blanketed by a top-level wrestler in Chimaev, I don’t see why something similar cannot happen here.
Now, these are the risks I’m weighing up due to the UFC odds. Usman deserves more respect on this moneyline. This, however, doesn’t mean I expect him to win. I wouldn’t be surprised to see control, but not enough to win every round.
This is where the handicap comes into play. Giving Usman +5.5 points at -116 requires him not to lose every round or get stopped. Well, he’s not going to get submitted, and the knockout will become much less plausible after the first couple of rounds, which I believe he can survive.
Any Winner by Decision at 1.86 [-116]
Du Plessis has never been stopped in a UFC octagon, and the two stoppage losses on his record came many moons ago. Usman’s freak knockout loss to Leon Edwards remains his lone KO loss, making it safe to say that these two aren’t easy customers to finish.
With the potential of cage and ground control from Usman, a lot of fighting back to the feet, and fatigue as a result, this fight could easily require the judges to declare a winner.
Better still, with the ‘any fighter wins by decision’ prop, we don’t have the difficult task of picking a winner, although I would lean toward the underdog, strictly based on the lopsided pricing.
UFC Oklahoma Event Information
- Date & Time: Saturday, July 18, 2026 – 11:00 p.m. CET
- Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- How to Watch: UFC Fight Pass & Paramount+
- Main Event Bout: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman
- Co-Main Event Bout: Jared Cannonier vs. Christian Leroy Duncan
