Ali Akbar Rosady
Oklahoma City, OK – Dricus du Plessis, the former UFC middleweight champion, marked a definitive return to the win column on Saturday night at UFC Oklahoma City, delivering a commanding unanimous decision victory over former welterweight kingpin Kamaru Usman. The performance, which saw du Plessis dominate across 25 minutes, was heralded by the South African fighter as the arrival of "Stillknocks 2.0," signifying a more composed and refined version of himself.
The main event clash saw du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) face Usman (20-5 MMA, 15-4 UFC) in a highly anticipated bout. Du Plessis, making his first appearance since losing his middleweight title, demonstrated an evolved fighting style, utilizing precision striking and robust takedown defense to largely control the action. While the decisive finish eluded him, "Stillknocks" repeatedly rocked "The Nigerian Nightmare" with powerful strikes, showcasing his striking prowess and strategic approach throughout the five rounds. The judges’ scorecards reflected du Plessis’s dominance, with scores of 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46, all in favor of the South African.
The victory serves as a crucial rebound for du Plessis, who last competed at UFC 319, where he relinquished his middleweight championship to Khamzat Chimaev. That bout, a tightly contested five-round affair, ended with Chimaev securing a split decision win, marking du Plessis’s first professional loss in over five years and snapping an impressive eight-fight winning streak. Critics at the time pointed to du Plessis’s aggressive, sometimes reckless, approach as a factor in his defeat, suggesting a need for greater tactical discipline. His performance against Usman, however, indicated a significant adjustment.
Speaking at the post-fight press conference, du Plessis articulated his satisfaction with his execution and strategic discipline. "I felt completely in that flow state tonight," he stated. "I felt I did everything that we trained. And yeah, it felt great. Every round felt like it was mine." He emphasized the successful implementation of his game plan, particularly highlighting his improved grappling defense. "I’m so happy that I got to showcase takedown defense. I’m glad I got taken down once, and I could show that, even if you get that, you’re not holding me down. The game plan worked perfectly. Me and my team, my coach, we worked on this game plan. It was perfect. I think it was the perfect plan. I don’t think I could have done it better."
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Du Plessis further elaborated on the strategic shift encapsulated by "Stillknocks 2.0." He explained that while opportunities for a finish presented themselves, he consciously opted for a more measured approach, prioritizing improvement and composure over an all-out assault. "The big thing was obviously, I could have gone for that finish, but the big thing about that was to go improve. I said ‘Stillknocks’ 2.0 is here. Part of that was showing the composure, not just going crazy. And every time I caught him, I could have gone crazy and go for that finish, but I basically had four or five finishes tonight." This disciplined performance contrasts with some of his earlier fights where he was known for his relentless, high-pressure attacks, often leading to spectacular finishes but occasionally leaving him vulnerable.
Despite the dominant nature of his win, du Plessis was quick to commend Usman’s resilience and storied career. Usman, a former long-reigning welterweight champion, entered the bout on a three-fight losing streak, including two defeats to Leon Edwards and the aforementioned contest against Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight. Known for his granite chin and unparalleled tenacity, Usman absorbed significant punishment from du Plessis but consistently recovered, a trait du Plessis acknowledged. "It was crazy how fast Usman was able to recover every time he got hurt," du Plessis remarked, recognizing the former champion’s enduring toughness.
The victory also served to symbolically conclude any lingering animosity from the widely publicized "Three African Kings" narrative. The feud, which originally involved Usman, Israel Adesanya, and Francis Ngannou, saw du Plessis inserting himself into the conversation by claiming to be the "true" African champion. Having now defeated both Usman and Adesanya – whom he challenged for the middleweight title at UFC 297, securing the championship – du Plessis affirmed a profound sense of respect among the continent’s elite fighters.
"I think it’s all respect," du Plessis stated. "With me and Izzy, that whole thing got out of context. I think we have so much respect for each other after sharing the octagon. I have respect for any man, and after being in there with Usman tonight for five rounds, that man deserves all the flowers in the world for the career that he has had. So does Adesanya. These are incredible, incredible athletes. And we, as Africans, we inspire our whole continent. And there’s not a lot of us in the UFC, especially at this level at the top. It’s only been an honor. I mean, tonight was the second time ever that it’s been an all-Africa main event. And I’ve had the honor of being part of both of those, and that’s a massive honor." The first all-Africa main event du Plessis referenced was his title bout against Israel Adesanya. These events highlight the growing prominence and success of African fighters within the UFC, representing a significant source of inspiration across the continent.
Looking ahead, du Plessis was unequivocal about his next desired step: a shot at reclaiming the UFC Middleweight Championship. The division is currently headed by Sean Strickland, whom du Plessis defeated at UFC 297 to initially claim the title. Du Plessis dismissed the notion of Khamzat Chimaev receiving an immediate rematch as "absolutely ridiculous," given Chimaev’s recent performance against Usman where he also secured a decision victory, albeit in a different context.
Du Plessis forcefully argued for his position as the rightful next challenger, also taking a jab at another contender, Nassourdine Imavov. "I beat [Strickland] twice, and I don’t even know if Imavov is still fighting," du Plessis asserted, referring to his prior championship victory over Strickland and possibly a psychological edge or past verbal exchanges. While du Plessis and Strickland have only officially fought once in the Octagon, where du Plessis claimed the title, his statement underscores his confidence in his superiority over the current champion. Nassourdine Imavov (14-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC), meanwhile, last fought in February, securing a win over Roman Dolidze, and is considered a rising contender in the middleweight division.
The middleweight landscape is currently competitive, with several top contenders vying for a title opportunity. Beyond Chimaev and Imavov, fighters like Robert Whittaker and Marvin Vettori remain in the mix. However, du Plessis’s dominant performance against a high-caliber opponent like Usman, coupled with his recent championship reign, positions him strongly for a shot at regaining his title. His calculated and composed display against Usman has not only put him back in the win column but also served notice to the division that "Stillknocks 2.0" is a formidable force to be reckoned with.
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