Chael Sonnen warns Kamaru Usman is a "terrible" matchup for Dricus du Plessis at UFC Oklahoma City

Chael Sonnen has cited Kamaru Usman's accomplishments in the wrestling sphere to emphasize that he mustn't be counted out in his upcoming fight. 

Usman, a former UFC welterweight champion and one-time middleweight competitor, is set to compete in a middleweight clash. "The Nigerian Nightmare" is scheduled to take on former UFC middleweight titlist Dricus du Plessis in the headlining match of the UFC Oklahoma City fight card on July 18. 

Kamaru Usman and Dricus du Plessis both boast wins over UFC middleweight ruler Sean Strickland

Kamaru Usman dominantly beat Sean Strickland by unanimous decision in their non-title welterweight showdown in 2017.

Incidentally, Dricus du Plessis beat Sean Strickland via split decision to end the American's UFC middleweight title reign in January 2024.

The South African fighter defended the belt by submitting Israel Adesanya that September. Du Plessis later defended it again by defeating Strickland via unanimous decision in February of last year. 

Nevertheless, Khamzat Chimaev took the middleweight title off du Plessis by outpointing him last August, and Strickland then regained the middleweight belt with a split decision win over Chimaev this May. 

All things considered, it's a matter of fact that Kamaru Usman and Dricus du Plessis both have victories over the reigning UFC middleweight kingpin Sean Strickland.

The duo, needless to say, are gunning for a middleweight title shot against Strickland, who's been recovering from a shoulder injury and is also being pursued for a rematch by Chimaev.

Chael Sonnen targets the narrative that Kamaru Usman is a significant underdog against Dricus du Plessis at UFC Oklahoma City

In an edition of UFC Fight Night Preview on UFC on Paramount, former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight title challenger Chael Sonnen addressed Dricus du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman. 

"The Bad Guy" signaled that both Usman and du Plessis might have been promised that their fight's victor would receive a UFC middleweight title shot. 

When asked about whether Usman was a live dog in the fight, given that some oddsmakers have him as a huge betting underdog, Sonnen stated: 

"Yes. I think he (Kamaru Usman) is a live dog. I think he is a terrible matchup for Dricus du Plessis. I really do. Look, Dricus did not just lose his last fight (against Khamzat Chimaev); he lost his last five rounds. Oh, by the way, to a superior wrestler. Kamaru Usman is a national champion wrestler. Everybody forgets that." 

Sonnen seemingly harked back to the first MMA encounter between Usman and fellow wrestling savant Colby Covington back in December of 2019. Covington was an NCAA Division I All-American as an amateur wrestler. Meanwhile, Usman was an NCAA Division II All-American and an NCAA Division II National Champion. 

"The American Gangster" recalled how some expected Covington to simply outwrestle Usman, given that the latter competed in the Division II realm unlike Covington, who'd achieved success as a Division I wrestler. 

Regardless, their MMA clash, which transpired at UFC 245, saw their respective grappling arsenals nullify each other. What ensued was a largely striking-centric battle that ended with Usman defending his UFC welterweight title by beating Covington via fifth-round TKO. 

On that note, Sonnen implied that Usman and other Division II wrestlers are often deprived of the credit they deserve. Alluding to the Nigerian-born American fighter's exceptional wrestling prowess, Sonnen said: 

"And Division II doesn't get the same credit as Division I in this country (United States of America). But he's still a national champion. He was an Olympic prospect back in 2012. Kamaru Usman definitely can win this fight." 

Watch Chael Sonnen discuss Kamaru Usman's underdog standing against Dricus du Plessis below (*comments at the 3:00-minute mark of the video):