Dricus du Plessis: ‘Stillknocks 2.0 is here’ after beating Kamaru Usman at UFC Oklahoma City

Dricus du Plessis dominated Kamaru Usman over five rounds at UFC Oklahoma City on Saturday, securing a unanimous decision victory that marks his return to the win column following his middleweight title loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319. Though unable to finish the former welterweight champion, du Plessis rocked Usman repeatedly throughout the bout and controlled the action decisively across all rounds.

At the post-fight press conference, du Plessis emphasized the measured, composed nature of his performance, declaring that "Stillknocks 2.0 is here." Rather than chase a knockout when opportunities presented themselves, he prioritized demonstrating improved composure and technical execution—hallmarks of his evolution since the Chimaev loss. He credited his coaching team for a flawless game plan and highlighted his defensive wrestling, stating he was never in danger even when taken down. "Every round felt like it was mine," du Plessis said, adding that he could have finished Usman multiple times but chose controlled dominance instead.

Despite the decisive victory, du Plessis was quick to praise Usman's resilience and athleticism, marveling at how rapidly "The Nigerian Nightmare" recovered from being hurt. The win also allowed du Plessis to definitively close the chapter on past tensions with the African fighting community. Having now beaten both Usman and Israel Adesanya, du Plessis stressed that any earlier friction was "out of context" and emphasized mutual respect. He highlighted the historic nature of an all-African main event and expressed pride that he has been part of both such occasions.

Looking ahead, du Plessis made clear his ambitions rest on a title shot, dismissing any notion of an immediate Chimaev rematch as "absolutely" absurd. He argued for a fight against Sean Strickland—whom he has already defeated twice—rather than Nassourdine Imavov, suggesting the latter's activity level and relevance remain questionable. The former champion's statement serves as a direct claim on the next middleweight title opportunity.