Du Plessis calls for Strickland trilogy after dominant Usman win

Dricus du Plessis has staked his claim for a middleweight title shot — and a third meeting with Sean Strickland — after a one-sided unanimous decision win over Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC Oklahoma City.

Fighting at the Paycom Center for the first time since losing the 185lb belt, the South African took the fight to his fellow former champion across five rounds. Du Plessis wobbled Usman on several occasions, leaning on his size, a left high kick and an unorthodox, aggressive striking game. He came closest to a finish in the second round with a flurry of combinations to the head, though Usman survived to the final horn and had a spell of success in the fifth.

What du Plessis said

Speaking in the cage afterwards, du Plessis made his intentions clear. "It feels absolutely amazing to be back," he said. "I'm back in the winning circle. Let's get my belt back!" At the post-fight press conference he argued that the manner of the victory justified a title bout, saying a win alone might not have been enough but "a performance like that" would be. He also credited Usman's durability, describing him as having one of the hardest heads he has ever hit, and indicated he would not turn down a rematch with Khamzat Chimaev either.

• Du Plessis beat Kamaru Usman by unanimous decision over five rounds in Oklahoma City
• It was the 24th professional win of du Plessis' career and his first since losing the title
• Sean Strickland currently holds the middleweight belt
• Du Plessis beat Strickland twice during his own reign at 185lb
• He said he should "absolutely" be next in line for a title shot

The middleweight picture has shifted significantly since du Plessis last wore the belt. Chimaev took the title from him in August 2025, only for Strickland to claim it at UFC 328 in May. That chain of results is part of why du Plessis framed his post-fight comments around unfinished business, pointedly contrasting his own style with what he described dismissively as opponents winning decisions by holding others down.

Du Plessis was also candid about how much the loss to Chimaev had bothered him, saying he hated the defeat and had been determined to avoid a repeat. With the win over Usman now banked, the 32-year-old's immediate future rests with the UFC's matchmaking: a trilogy bout against Strickland, whom he has already beaten twice, or a second meeting with Chimaev. Either route would put him straight back into title contention.