Du Plessis, Usman are fighting for more than a win at UFC OKC

Dricus du Plessis and Kamaru Usman will square off in the main event of UFC Oklahoma City on July 18, with the winner positioning himself as the clear frontrunner for the next middleweight title shot against current champion Sean Strickland.

Both du Plessis and Usman are former champions seeking a path back to gold. Du Plessis, a South African fighter, recently lost his middleweight belt to Khamzat Chimaev in a one-sided decision and holds two career victories over Strickland, giving him a strong case for a rematch. Usman, meanwhile, defeated Strickland years earlier when both were competing at welterweight, establishing his own credential for another bout with the champion.

Du Plessis has made clear that he believes the winner of his fight with Usman deserves the next title opportunity. He emphasized that the outcome will hinge not just on victory but on the caliber of performance displayed by both fighters. "It will all come down to the winner and the fashion that you do this," du Plessis said, acknowledging that Usman is equally deserving of a shot based on his credentials.

The middleweight title picture remains crowded, with other contenders including Khamzat Chimaev and top-ranked Nassourdine Imavov also in the mix, though both have already suffered losses to Strickland. The winner of du Plessis versus Usman will likely emerge as the most legitimate challenger to the champion, making Saturday's main event a critical stepping stone for both fighters' championship aspirations.