Du Plessis Rebounds With Unanimous Decision Over Usman
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The South African middleweight returns to the win column, positioning himself for a potential title clash with Sean Strickland.
Dricus Du Plessis signaled his return to the elite of the UFC middleweight division on Saturday, securing a unanimous decision victory over Kamaru Usman at UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City, according to Sportsnet.
The 32-year-old South African entered the bout as the No. 2 contender; his professional record now stands at 24-3-0. The win marks a critical bounce-back for Du Plessis, who previously lost his middleweight championship to Khamzat Chimaev last August. Prior to that title loss, Du Plessis had secured nine consecutive victories within the UFC, as reported by Sportsnet.
For Usman, the loss continues a difficult stretch for the former welterweight champion. While Usman defeated Joaquin Buckley in June, Sportsnet reports that the 39-year-old has now lost four of his last five fights and remains 0-2 in the middleweight division. This stands in contrast to Usman's prime, during which he held the welterweight title for more than two years and achieved five successful defenses.
With this victory, Du Plessis may now pursue a title fight against the current middleweight champion, Sean Strickland, per Sportsnet.