UFC Oklahoma City: Du Plessis and Usman Headline a Card Riddled with Pivotal Middleweight Clashes

Oklahoma City, OK – The Paycom Center in Oklahoma City is poised to host a significant UFC Fight Night event on Saturday, July 18, featuring a lineup of bouts with substantial implications for multiple divisions, particularly the middleweight landscape. The main event pits former UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis against former UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman in a contest whose strategic purpose has been a subject of widespread discussion. The co-main event further solidifies the middleweight focus, with veteran contender Jared Cannonier battling the ascending Christian Leroy Duncan. The preliminary card is scheduled to commence at 5 p.m. ET, followed by the five-fight main card at 8 p.m. ET, with the entire event streaming live on Paramount+.

Main Event: Dricus du Plessis (3 MW, P4P-5) vs. Kamaru Usman (10 WW)

The headline bout between Dricus du Plessis and Kamaru Usman represents a crossroads for both elite athletes, each a former champion in their respective weight classes. While the rumor of this matchup only materialized in recent months, its execution raises immediate questions regarding its impact on the fighters’ future title aspirations. Usman, a long-reigning welterweight king, had been actively campaigning for another shot at his former title, while du Plessis was fresh off relinquishing his middleweight belt and seemingly eager for an immediate return to title contention within his division. The strategic value of this fight remains ambiguous: whether a victory over a former welterweight champion propels du Plessis closer to the middleweight title, or if a win against du Plessis aids Usman’s welterweight title claim, is yet to be definitively understood.

Dricus du Plessis, currently ranked No. 3 in the middleweight division and No. 5 pound-for-pound, enters this contest in what is widely considered the prime of his career. His physical imposing presence and diverse striking arsenal have been hallmarks of his recent performances. However, his previous outing against Khamzat Chimaev highlighted a potential vulnerability in his grappling defense, an area where Chimaev’s overwhelming physicality proved problematic. Analysts noted du Plessis’s uncharacteristic difficulty in fending off Chimaev’s takedowns and control, a tactical blueprint that could potentially be exploited.

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Kamaru Usman, ranked No. 10 in the welterweight division, remains a formidable presence despite approaching 40 years of age. His wrestling and grappling prowess are well-established, earning him the moniker "The Nigerian Nightmare" through a career built on suffocating top control and relentless pressure. While the question of whether Usman, at this stage of his career, possesses the same sustained physical dominance as a younger Khamzat Chimaev remains, his capacity to control opponents on the mat is undeniable. Should du Plessis’s grappling defense not have undergone significant improvement since his last fight, Usman’s ability to "hold fighters down like a weighted blanket" could present a substantial challenge.

Despite Usman’s potential to disrupt du Plessis’s rhythm with his grappling, Dricus du Plessis is widely favored by oddsmakers. His apparent size advantage, combined with his current career trajectory and superior striking tools, positions him as the more dangerous fighter if the bout remains standing. Du Plessis has demonstrated a broader array of offensive striking techniques and a more aggressive approach than Usman has typically displayed throughout his career.

The critical determinant of this fight’s outcome hinges on the tactical approach adopted by both camps. If du Plessis can effectively defend takedowns and maintain striking range, his offensive output is expected to overwhelm Usman. Conversely, if Usman can successfully implement his wrestling and secure takedowns, he possesses the skills to control rounds and potentially wear down the South African. However, the physical decline associated with Usman’s age, particularly in sustaining the high-intensity grappling exchanges necessary to mirror Chimaev’s performance, leads many to conclude that a prime Usman might have posed a greater threat than the version stepping into the octagon on Saturday. The consensus among prognosticators leans towards Du Plessis leveraging his youth, power, and striking to secure the victory.

Pick: Du Plessis

Co-Main Event: Jared Cannonier (14 MW) vs. Christian Leroy Duncan

The co-main event features another pivotal middleweight clash, pitting the seasoned veteran Jared Cannonier against the surging Christian Leroy Duncan. This bout presents a classic narrative of experience battling against youth and burgeoning potential, echoing thematic similarities with the main event.

Jared Cannonier, ranked No. 14 in the middleweight division, is a fighter who, despite accumulating several significant victories and showcasing an entertaining style, has never quite reached the pinnacle of championship success. Approaching his 40s, "Killa Gorilla" continues to defy Father Time, demonstrating that he still possesses considerable reserves. In his prime, Cannonier was celebrated for his thunderous punching power, unexpectedly effective wrestling, and a surprising degree of tactical acumen. While the physical toll of a long career is evident, his strategic sharpness remains, as evidenced by recent performances against formidable opponents like Gregory Rodrigues. However, the observable trend of absorbing more strikes and showing increased vulnerability with each outing suggests that the "bill comes due" for even the most resilient veterans.

Christian Leroy Duncan, a rising prospect, enters this fight as a physically imposing and younger combatant in the ascendancy of his career. While not universally recognized for the most refined or brilliant technique, Duncan possesses solid fundamental skills, explosive power, and a distinct speed advantage at this stage of his career. His dynamic movement and quickness are anticipated to pose significant challenges for Cannonier, potentially forcing the veteran into a counter-striking approach where his landing percentage may be diminished. All the while, Duncan’s potent power shots will loom as a constant threat. The trajectory of Duncan’s career, combined with Cannonier’s ongoing physical decline, suggests that this could be a bridge too far for the veteran.

Pick: Duncan

Main Card Breakdown

Chase Hooper vs. Mitch Ramirez

This lightweight encounter gained an unexpected dynamic when Chase Hooper missed weight by 1.5 pounds, marking the first such occurrence in his career. This weight miss could potentially translate into a size and strength advantage for Hooper on fight night. Hooper is recognized as a slick and dangerous grappler, a skillset that appears well-matched against Mitch Ramirez, who is noted for his defensive wrestling deficiencies. Ramirez’s professional record, including a loss on Dana White’s Contender Series and an 0-2 stint within the promotion, indicates that this matchup is likely a strategic placement designed to highlight Hooper’s capabilities.

Pick: Hooper

Tabatha Ricci (10 SW) vs. Fatima Kline (14 SW)

This strawweight bout is considered one of the most significant contests outside the main event, largely due to the promising trajectory of Fatima Kline. In an era where "bright spots" in women’s MMA can be scarce, Kline has emerged as a notable talent. After an initial setback in her UFC debut at flyweight, Kline successfully transitioned to 115 pounds, where she has compiled an impressive 3-0 record, including two finishes. At just 26 years old, Kline is seen by many as a future contender for the UFC Strawweight Championship.

Tabatha Ricci, ranked No. 10 in the strawweight division, has been a consistent presence in the Top 15 for several years. However, she is often perceived as undersized for the division and lacking a singular, standout skill that distinguishes her from her more athletically gifted peers. Physically, Ricci is expected to appear significantly smaller than Kline. Unless Ricci can implement a dominant grappling strategy for the full 15 minutes, controlling Kline on the ground, the night is anticipated to be challenging for "Baby Shark."

Pick: Kline

Tommy McMillen vs. Alberto Montes

The bantamweight clash between Tommy McMillen and Alberto Montes is anticipated to be a high-octane, chaotic affair. McMillen, a training partner of Sean O’Malley, exhibits a fighting style that starkly contrasts O’Malley’s nuanced, range-striking approach. McMillen prioritizes aggressive collisions and direct engagements over intricate defense or technical striking, resulting in an undeniably entertaining but often frenetic style.

Alberto Montes shares a similar aggressive disposition, fighting with an offensively potent style that has been compared to a "crazed version of Charles Oliveira." This stylistic compatibility suggests that both fighters will eagerly engage in a relentless, back-and-forth exchange. While the bout is expected to be a tightly contested "coin flip," Montes is marginally favored due to a perceived slight edge in overall polish.

Pick: Montes

Preliminary Card Results

The preliminary card features seven bouts, with the following predicted outcomes:

• Austin Bashi def. Jose Miguel Delgado
• Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani def. SeokHyeon Ko
• Levi Rodrigues Jr. def. Felipe Franco
• Damien Anderson def. Ezra Elliot
• Alden Coria def. Stewart Nicoll
• Alvin Hines def. RJ Harris
• Dione Barbosa def. Anna Melisano

UFC Oklahoma City promises a night of compelling matchups, particularly within the middleweight division, where established veterans seek to maintain relevance against rising contenders, all under the shadow of a main event whose implications could reshape two distinct title pictures.

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