Dricus Du Plessis Calls for UFC Title Shot After Dominant Win Over Kamaru Usman
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Dricus Du Plessis strengthened his case for another UFC middleweight title opportunity with a unanimous-decision victory over Kamaru Usman.
The former middleweight champion believes his composed five-round victory in Oklahoma City proved that “Stillknocks 2.0” belongs at the front of the UFC championship picture.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Dricus Du Plessis believes he has done enough to earn another opportunity at the UFC middleweight championship.
The former titleholder strengthened his case Saturday night by defeating Kamaru Usman in the five-round main event of UFC Oklahoma City at Paycom Center. Du Plessis controlled long stretches of the contest and earned a unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the fight 50-45 and 49-46 twice. The victory improved his professional record to 24-3 and returned the UFC’s No. 2-ranked middleweight contender to the win column.
Following the fight, Du Plessis wasted little time making his intentions clear. With Sean Strickland currently holding the middleweight championship, Du Plessis argued that his history against the champion should separate him from the division’s other leading contenders.
When asked why Strickland and the other top middleweights should not be considered on his level, Du Plessis offered a direct response.
“Because I beat him twice,” Du Plessis said.
Du Plessis also said he would accept a rematch with Khamzat Chimaev should the UFC decide to move in that direction. Chimaev handed Du Plessis his most recent defeat and ended his championship reign, while Strickland later defeated Chimaev to reclaim the middleweight title. Strickland is currently recognized by the UFC as the division’s active champion.
Although Du Plessis is open to avenging his loss to Chimaev, his preferred destination is another championship fight. His two previous victories over Strickland give him a compelling argument, particularly after defeating an accomplished former champion such as Usman in a high-profile main event.
Du Plessis’ performance against Usman was noticeably different from the aggressive, sometimes chaotic approach that helped define his rise through the UFC. Rather than repeatedly blitzing forward, the South African remained patient, managed distance and refused to abandon his game plan when opportunities to chase a finish appeared.
“I felt completely in that flow state tonight,” Du Plessis said. “I felt I did everything that we trained.”
He described the performance as the arrival of “Stillknocks 2.0,” explaining that his increased composure was intended to demonstrate the improvements he made during an 11-month absence from competition.
“Part of that was showing the composure, not just going crazy,” Du Plessis said. “Every time I caught him, I could have gone crazy and gone for that finish.”
That patience allowed Du Plessis to repeatedly connect with powerful punches, knees and high kicks without leaving himself unnecessarily exposed to Usman’s wrestling. Usman managed to complete a takedown, but Du Plessis quickly returned to his feet and largely prevented the former welterweight champion from establishing meaningful control.
Du Plessis said his confidence in the defensive work completed with his coaches allowed him to strike freely without becoming overly concerned about Usman’s takedown attempts. He viewed the fight as an opportunity to prove that his development extended beyond his offensive ability.
Usman remained competitive and continued pressing through the final round, but Du Plessis’ size, accuracy and consistent damage created a deficit the former welterweight champion was unable to overcome. Du Plessis also praised Usman’s toughness, noting that the 39-year-old repeatedly recovered after absorbing damaging shots.
Despite Du Plessis’ public demand, UFC leadership has not officially confirmed the next middleweight title challenger. UFC CEO Dana White declined to make an immediate decision after the event, saying the promotion would review the division and begin discussing its options during the following week.
The lack of a commitment does not weaken Du Plessis’ position. He remains one of the highest-ranked fighters in the division, owns two victories over the reigning champion and has now rebounded from losing the belt by defeating one of the most decorated fighters of the modern UFC era.
Whether the UFC chooses a third meeting with Strickland or first requires Du Plessis to settle unfinished business with Chimaev, the former champion has placed himself firmly back in the middleweight title conversation.
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