Du Plessis Outpoints Usman Over 5 Rounds, Reenters UFC Middleweight Title Race

Q: Could Kamaru Usman conquer a new division, or did Dricus du Plessis halt his middleweight title ambitions in Oklahoma City?

It cannot yet be determined from the available information whether Kamaru Usman broke through at middleweight or whether Dricus du Plessis stopped his title push in Oklahoma City. The material provided is entirely pre-fight coverage of UFC Oklahoma City at the Paycom Center on July 18, 2026. It establishes the stakes clearly: Usman, the former welterweight champion, entered the bout ranked No. 9 at middleweight and viewed a win over former middleweight champion du Plessis as a path to an immediate title shot. Du Plessis, ranked No. 2 and coming off four wins in his last five fights, was positioned as the established elite contender trying to protect his place near the top of the division. The weigh-in results confirm both men made weight, with du Plessis at 185.5 pounds and Usman at 186. That supports the significance of the matchup as a legitimate middleweight test for Usman rather than a short-notice or catchweight scenario. But the decisive fact is missing: no result, method, or round is included in the supplied reporting or supporting material. Without the official outcome, there is no factual basis to say Usman conquered a new division or that du Plessis ended his ambitions. What can be said is that the fight was designed to answer exactly that question. If Usman won, he would have strengthened his case for a middleweight title opportunity. If du Plessis won, he would have preserved his own standing and likely shut down Usman’s immediate hopes at 185 pounds.

Q: After missing weight and suffering brutal losses, did Chase Hooper's fight for his family's future end in redemption or defeat?

It cannot yet be called either redemption or defeat, because the available reporting does not include the result of Chase Hooper’s fight with Mitch Ramirez. What is clear is that Hooper entered UFC Oklahoma City under heavy pressure. He missed weight for the first time in his UFC career, coming in at 157.5 pounds for a lightweight bout and giving up 20 percent of his purse. He was also trying to stop a two-fight skid after first-round TKO losses to Alexander Hernandez in August 2025 and Lance Gibson Jr. in March 2026. That made the Ramirez bout especially important. Hooper, 26, had described himself as fighting for his family’s future after becoming a husband and father, and the matchup was widely framed as a chance to reestablish himself after a difficult stretch. His background supports that narrative: he rose from financial hardship, built his career around jiu-jitsu, and had previously revived his UFC run with a five-fight winning streak after moving to lightweight. But based on the news story and the additional sourced material provided, there is no verified outcome from Saturday’s fight. The event listing confirms the bout took place on the main card, yet no official result is included in the supplied coverage. So the fairest answer is that Hooper’s bid for redemption was real, but whether it ended in redemption or another defeat is not established by the information available here.

3 articles · Updated · UFC · Jul 19

Dricus Du Plessis used five rounds in Oklahoma City to comprehensively outpoint former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, bouncing back from his title loss and thrusting himself back into contention at 185 pounds.
Improved takedown defense blunted Usman’s wrestling, and Du Plessis’ switch-hitting striking — especially a left question-mark kick — repeatedly had Usman on wobbly legs even without a finish.
Sean Strickland’s return to the top of the division leaves UFC matchmakers with a fresh decision, with Du Plessis’ patient 25-minute performance strengthening his case for another title shot.
Elsewhere on the card, Tommy McMillen scored a third-round TKO of Alberto Montes and set a 3-round significant-strike record with 252, while Fatima Kline and Christian Leroy Duncan also boosted their contender status.