‘Crazy Cope, Just Take the L’ – MMA Fans React to Kamaru Usman’s Thumb-to-the-Eye Claim After Dricus Du Plessis Loss

After nearly a year on the sidelines, the former UFC Middleweight Champion, Dricus du Plessis, made a triumphant return to the Octagon, outclassing fellow ex-titleholder Kamaru Usman across five rounds in the UFC Oklahoma City main event.

While du Plessis walked away with a unanimous decision and a Fight of the Night bonus, Usman's post-fight explanation for one of the bout's pivotal moments quickly became a talking point. His comments about suffering a thumb to the eye divided fans, with many questioning whether the explanation amounted to an excuse for the loss. 

Kamaru Usman’s Thumb-to-the-Eye Explanation Sparks Backlash After UFC Oklahoma City Defeat

Although the former welterweight king made it clear he wasn't trying to diminish the South African’s performance, Usman admitted that an early exchange left him struggling with blurred vision for much of the fight.

"I took kind of like a thumb punch in the eye early on and that kind of blurred my vision but you know no excuses," he said during the post-fight media briefing. He also pointed to du Plessis' unconventional striking style, saying it made the South African particularly difficult to read.

"He's got kind of like I said weird rangy shots so it's kind of delayed to get out of the way of those shots."

Fans Dismiss Kamaru Usman's Claims After UFC Oklahoma City

However, though, the explanation did little to win over fans on social media. Many felt the comments contradicted Usman's insistence that he wasn't making excuses, flooding X with reactions. Many fans argued that the former champion should simply accept the defeat, with one writing:

"Crazy cope just take the L and go gatekeep at 170."

Meanwhile, another user disputed Usman's version of events altogether, writing, "Take the L like a man, that wasn't an eyepoke, the world saw it on replay."

Others even referenced Usman's gym, and poked in a sly jab at Trevor Whitman - "Tell your coach to stop practicing that. Your team literally does that closed fist thumb poke punch to everyone lol."

"No excuses after/before making excuses, always hilarious. It was a punch in the eye, not an eyepoke," another fan pointed out the contradiction in Usman's comments.

Then came the comment that perfectly captured the internet's trademark wit, "DDP hit him so hard and frequently that Usman thought he was reffing the match."

DDP With Emphatic Victory

Inside the cage, however, there was little room for debate. Fighting for the first time since losing the middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev, the 32-year-old looked sharp from the opening bell. 

His speed, awkward angles, and noticeable size advantage kept Usman (21-5-0) guessing, while powerful right hands, step-in knees, and head kicks consistently found their target. Usman struggled to establish his wrestling or close the distance with any sustained success, allowing "Stillknocks" to cruise to a unanimous decision victory with scorecards of 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46.

DDP Gives Credit Where It’s Due

Although the judges' scorecards reflected a one-sided contest, du Plessis (24-3-0) made it clear afterward that he never underestimated the challenge standing across from him. The South African explained that Usman's reputation and championship pedigree remained evident throughout the fight, especially as the bout entered the championship rounds.

According to du Plessis, even with momentum firmly on his side in the fourth and fifth rounds, he could still feel the aura of one of the greatest welterweights in UFC history. 

Following the five-round, DDP said, “When I came out for the fourth round, that's usually when I see people start to break, even with (Israel) Adesanya and (Sean) Strickland, I can tell they don't want to give up, but subconsciously, they already have. I didn't see it once tonight. When the fourth and fifth rounds came, that's when I felt the Kamaru Usman aura.”

Nothing But Admiration Between du Plessis, Usman 

The mutual respect between the two former champions stood in stark contrast to the online discourse that followed. While fans continue debating Usman's explanation for the thumb-to-the-eye incident, du Plessis chose to acknowledge the challenge of sharing the Octagon with a fighter of Usman's caliber.

With the win, du Plessis has now bounced back from the lone defeat of his UFC career, firmly reasserting himself in the middleweight title picture. Usman, meanwhile, suffered his fourth loss in his last five outings and admitted afterward that he has "some thinking to do" as he weighs the next chapter of his career, whether that comes at middleweight or a return to welterweight.