Dricus Du Plessis Routs Kamaru Usman With 50-45 Scorecard in Oklahoma City

Dricus Du Plessis secured a unanimous decision victory over Kamaru Usman at the Paycom Center with judges' scores of 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46.

Dricus Du Plessis defeated Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision on Saturday night in the main event of UFC Fight Night at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The three judges cageside scored the five-round middleweight contest 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46 in favor of the South African fighter. Du Plessis, who now holds a professional record of 24-3, utilized superior striking volume and power to overwhelm the former welterweight champion throughout the 25-minute bout. This victory marks a successful return for the No. 2 ranked contender following his August 2025 loss to Khamzat Chimaev, which had ended his initial 9-0 run in the Octagon.

Dominant Striking and Early Staggering Blows

Dricus Du Plessis established his range immediately in the opening frame, connecting with a consistent stream of jabs and leg kicks. A significant right hand landed on Usman's temple during the first round, causing the former 170-pound king to wobble briefly. The momentum carried into the second round where Du Plessis timed a clinical knee to the head as Usman attempted a level change. This strike staggered Usman, who was later caught square on the chin by a second knee up the middle.

Kamaru Usman, now 21-5, struggled to mitigate the pressure as he competed in only his second career bout at 185 pounds. His previous middleweight appearance was a short-notice majority decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev in October 2023. Prior to this matchup, Usman had spent the early portion of the year lobbying for a title fight against Islam Makhachev at welterweight, but transitioned to the higher weight class after the UFC scheduled Makhachev against Ian Machado Garry for August.

Takedown Defense and Head Kick Impact

Usman found a moment of success in the third round, recording his first takedown of the fight with approximately one minute remaining on the clock. However, Du Plessis neutralized the grappling advantage by returning to his feet almost immediately. By the fourth round, Du Plessis regained total control, finding a consistent home for two-punch combinations and landing a pair of powerful head kicks. He further demonstrated his defensive wrestling by easily stuffing a takedown attempt during this period.

In the fifth and final round, Usman faced a significant deficit on the scorecards. Du Plessis landed a massive head kick that badly hurt Usman, forcing him to fall back against the cage wall. Despite the damage, Usman rebounded in the closing minutes as Du Plessis’ strike output began to drop. The former welterweight champion threw heavy haymakers in the final seconds of the match, but the late surge failed to alter the outcome of the lopsided decision.

Career Milestones and Division Standings

This win restores Dricus Du Plessis to the win column after he previously defended the middleweight title twice during his undefeated 9-0 start in the promotion. He remains the second-ranked fighter in the 185-pound division following this five-round performance. For Usman, the result represents another setback in his move to the middleweight category after a long tenure as the welterweight champion. The Oklahoma City crowd witnessed Du Plessis dictate the action for nearly the entire duration of the contest, maintaining pressure and rocking his opponent multiple times across the five rounds of action.