Dricus du Plessis blames ’little someone’ for delaying fight announcement

Dricus du Plessis says his next opponent has agreed to fight him, but contract delays are holding up the official announcement. In a cryptic Instagram post, the former middleweight champion suggested his counterpart is hesitant to sign for what amounts to a show purse, writing: "a little someone agreed to a fight but actually signing the dotted line isn't that easy when you know you're just signing for a show purse." Du Plessis stressed that his side of the deal has been finalized, and the delay rests elsewhere. While he did not name his opponent, recent reports have linked him to a bout with Kamaru Usman at 185 pounds, potentially headlining UFC Oklahoma City on July 18. Neither du Plessis nor the UFC has officially confirmed the matchup or the venue. Du Plessis has not competed since losing his middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in August 2024. Before that defeat, the South African star won nine consecutive UFC fights, including title defenses against Sean Strickland and finishes of former champions Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker. Usman, a former welterweight champion who held the 170-pound title from 2019 and defended it five times, recently moved to middleweight. He snapped a three-fight losing streak with a unanimous decision victory over Joaquin Buckley in June 2025. If the fight materializes, it will mark Usman's second bout at 185 pounds in the UFC.