Du Plessis makes winning return to UFC with dominant decision over Usman

Dricus Du Plessis secured a decisive victory over Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC Fight Night held in Oklahoma City on Saturday. All three judges awarded the bout to Du Plessis, with scorecards reading 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46 in the South African fighter's favour. The 32-year-old's performance marked his return to the octagon after nearly a year away from competition.

Du Plessis had previously held the UFC middleweight championship from January 2024 until mid-August of the following year, when he lost the title to Khamzat Chimaev. His record now stands at 24 wins and 3 losses in mixed martial arts competition. The fighter emphasized the importance of his return, noting that many South African youth look to him as a role model.

The bout itself was contested entirely on the feet, with neither fighter successfully executing takedowns or submission attempts. Du Plessis demonstrated no signs of ring rust, accumulating a substantial advantage in striking output. He landed 136 significant strikes compared to Usman's 92, and finished with a total strike differential of 139-99 in his favour.

Usman, a 39-year-old Nigerian fighter, was previously the UFC welterweight champion from March 2019 to November 2021. However, his recent record has been inconsistent, with four losses in his last five fights. This bout represented his first competition in 13 months, and the loss prevented him from securing consecutive victories.