TLDR
- Kamaru Usman says Du Plessis fight was mentioned but not formally offered until UFC announced it
- Usman had been seeking fights since February, initially wanted Islam Makhachev bout
- Former welterweight champion pursuing dual-division title status at middleweight
- Du Plessis and Usman headline UFC Fight Night 281 on July 18 in Oklahoma City
- Usman disputes Du Plessis’s claim that UFC had to convince him to take the fight
Sources: mmajunkie.usatoday.com | ufc.com
Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman says he learned his fight with Dricus Du Plessis was official the same way fans did – when the UFC announced it.
Usman will face former middleweight champion Du Plessis in the main event of UFC Fight Night 281 on July 18 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The event will stream live on Paramount+.
Du Plessis recently claimed the UFC had to convince Usman to take the fight. Usman disputes that version of events.
“I’ve just been ready to fight since like February – well, I asked for a fight since then,” Usman said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo. “DDP was mentioned, not really offered, but mentioned, and I said, yeah, if that’s – I just need something that gets me to the title.”
Usman said he had been pursuing other opportunities first. He wanted to fight Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title while the UFC was working on a potential bout between Makhachev and featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.
Fight Negotiations Dragged On for Months
The former welterweight king said when Du Plessis was brought up, he asked for the fight to happen in Miami. UFC officials told him that date was too soon and Du Plessis might not be ready.
“So, I thought the fight was off, it wasn’t going to happen, and then there was, like, oh, it’s potentially going to happen,” Usman explained. “And then finally, I guess it was announced. I’m like, ‘Well, sh*t, I guess it’s happening, let me go ahead and prepare.'”
Kamaru Usman caught off guard by UFC Oklahoma, claims Dricus Du Plessis fight was ‘mentioned’ but ‘not offered’ https://t.co/sZeHS4Q0Qb
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) July 2, 2026
Usman defended his UFC welterweight title five times during his reign. Only Georges St-Pierre defended the 170-pound belt more times in UFC history.
This will be Usman’s second appearance at middleweight. He lost his debut at 185 pounds to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2023.
Dual-Champion Status Drives Usman
Usman said his motivation for moving up to middleweight centers on becoming a two-division champion. He has accomplished almost everything else in his career.
“There’s still a club that I’m not in yet, and I want to be in that club,” Usman said. “I want to be in all the clubs in this sport.”
He added that pursuing a second championship in a different weight class remains “very attractive” to him. The identity of his opponent matters less than the opportunity it creates.
“Whoever the opponent is, it doesn’t really matter to me at this point because it’s bigger than just a fight,” Usman stated.
Du Plessis lost his middleweight title earlier this year. He currently holds the No. 2 ranking in the division with a record of 23-3 overall and 9-1 in the UFC.
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The South African fighter has stopped opponents in 20 of his 23 career victories. His resume includes wins over Sean Strickland twice, Israel Adesanya, and Robert Whittaker.
Usman brings a 21-4 record into the contest. His welterweight victories include wins over Colby Covington twice, Jorge Masvidal twice, and Tyron Woodley.
The UFC returns to Oklahoma City for the first time in almost 10 years. Tickets for UFC Fight Night 281 are currently on sale through Ticketmaster.
The preliminary card begins at 5 p.m. ET, with the main card starting at 8 p.m. ET. All fights will stream exclusively on Paramount+.
