Champions Collide in OKC
Former Champions Du Plessis and Usman Headline UFC Fight Night Return in Oklahoma City
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Key Points
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UFC said the Oklahoma City stop will be its third visit overall—and its first there since 2017—at the Paycom Center for UFC Fight Night on July 18.
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Du Plessis’ championship run leading into this fight included winning the 185-pound title at UFC 297 vs. Sean Strickland, then defending it twice (stopping Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and edging Strickland in the UFC 312 rematch).
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Usman’s return comes after a 13-month layoff, with the most recent win described as a “redeemable unanimous decision” over Joaquin Buckley that snapped a three-fight losing streak; it also sets up his first middleweight fight since a late-notice majority decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294.
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The Du Plessis vs. Usman main event is framed as the second time two African fighters have headlined the UFC: the first was in August 2024, when du Plessis defended his title against Israel Adesanya.
Two former UFC champions with a common rival will headline UFC Fight Night on July 18 at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis faces former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the main event, according to Cage Side Press and Clutch Points. It is the UFC's first visit to OKC in nine years.
Both fighters share a painful connection: Khamzat Chimaev beat each of them on the way to the middleweight title. The winner in Oklahoma City becomes the clear next challenger to Chimaev's belt, Yahoo Sports reports.
Du Plessis Looks to Rebuild After Chimaev Stoppage
Du Plessis rode an 11-fight win streak to the top of the middleweight division. He won the 185-pound title at UFC 297 in January 2024, beating Sean Strickland. He then stopped Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and edged Strickland again at UFC 312. That run ended in August 2025 when Chimaev stopped him in the second round and took the belt, Yahoo Sports reported.
Now ranked No. 2 at middleweight, du Plessis is hungry.
"Oklahoma City is the start of the second reign," du Plessis said in a June 18 training interview. "Usman is a legend, but he's a welterweight trying to swim in my ocean." Du Plessis sees the fight as a stepping stone back to Chimaev, not a destination.
Usman Seeks First Real Middleweight Statement at 39
Usman's move to middleweight started badly. He took a short-notice majority decision loss to Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2023, with just 10 days to prepare. Then came a three-fight losing streak. He finally snapped it with a convincing unanimous decision over Joaquin Buckley after a 13-month layoff, Clutch Points reported.
"The 'Nightmare' is still here," Usman said on social media after the Buckley win. "This isn't a run; it's a takeover." Critics note Usman is 39 years old and some fans on social media argue he is being matched against du Plessis to build the younger fighter's profile. But Usman enters with a full training camp — a luxury he did not have for his Chimaev bout, according to Essentially Sports.
UFC Returns to Oklahoma City After Nine-Year Absence
The July 18 card marks only the third time the UFC has held an event in Oklahoma City. The first was UFC 4 in 1994. The second was a Fight Night in June 2017. UFC CEO Dana White said at the UFC 315 post-fight press conference, "We haven't been to OKC in nine years. It was time." The Paycom Center holds about 18,203 fans for basketball, and a sold-out UFC gate is projected to bring in between $2.5 million and $4 million.
The card also carries a historic angle. This is only the second time two fighters of African descent have headlined a UFC event. The first was du Plessis vs. Adesanya in August 2024, DraftKings Network noted. White called it "two of the greatest African fighters in history" sharing a card in the heart of the U.S.
Full Card Features Cannonier, Ricci as Late Replacement
Veteran middleweight Jared Cannonier takes on rising prospect Christian Leroy Duncan in a co-main event. Cannonier is trying to stay in the top five. Duncan is looking for a signature win over a seasoned name. The fight adds a meaningful subplot for the middleweight division beyond the main event.
The women's strawweight bout has a late change. Tabatha Ricci steps in as a replacement after Fatima Kline's original opponent was forced out due to injury, Cage Side Press reported. Kline's camp noted frustration over the stylistic shift — Ricci is a high-level grappler, a different challenge than what was originally planned. Official weigh-ins are set for July 17 at the Paycom Center.
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