Dricus Du Plessis returned to the win column at UFC Oklahoma City on Saturday, earning a dominant unanimous decision victory over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the main event.
The judges scored the contest 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46 in favor of Du Plessis, who delivered one of the strongest performances of his career in his first octagon appearance since losing the UFC middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev.
From the opening round, Du Plessis established a clear striking advantage, repeatedly hurting Usman with powerful right hands, knees, and well-timed head kicks. A sharp left high kick proved to be one of the most effective weapons of the night, with Du Plessis rocking Usman on multiple occasions.
Rather than chasing a finish recklessly, Du Plessis maintained his composure throughout, a quality he credited to focused preparation with his team.
“I had him rocked maybe five or six times, I can’t remember,” Du Plessis said in his post-bout octagon interview. “I didn’t go crazy when I caught him. I had him out on his feet a couple of times. And what we worked on as a team was composure. The knockout, you can always get it.”
He continued, “You need to train your mind to be composed. And that’s what I showed here tonight. That being said, that man has one of the hardest heads I’ve ever hit in my life.”
Usman landed a notable takedown in the third round and pushed forward in a late fifth-round rally. He was unable to shift the momentum of the match, however, as Du Plessis controlled the striking exchanges for the majority of the contest.
After the final horn, Du Plessis praised Usman while also taking a pointed dig at athleres who prioritize control over action.
“That’s a warrior who I will respect for the rest of my life,” Du Plessis said. “You guys deserve matches like these, not guys lying on top of other guys to get some decision win. Thank you, Kamaru Usman, for bringing the best out of me, and thank you for giving your life up over so many years to entertain these fans.”
Before turning his attention to the middleweight title picture, Du Plessis made clear where he believes the credit for his comeback belongs.
“The first thing I want to say before I talk about any title, is without my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, this comeback would have never been possible,” he said. “He got me out of that slump after that loss. He got me out of there and said, ‘You are my child, and through me anything is possible.’ And I showed it here tonight.”
Additionally, Du Plessis wasted no time making his ambitions known. “I said a win wouldn’t give me a title shot, but a performance like that would get me a title shot,” he declared, positioning himself as the top contender for the middleweight title he once held.
