Dricus du Plessis Confident Physical Advantage will Neutralize Kamaru Usman
The former middleweight champion believes moving up in weight will make life much harder for the former welterweight king at UFC Oklahoma City.
When he steps into the Octagon to face Kamaru Usman this Saturday at UFC Oklahoma City, Dricus du Plessis knows he will be facing one of the greatest welterweights in UFC history. Despite all the respect he has for "The Nigerian Nightmare", the South African believes moving up to middleweight will make life much harder for the former champion. Confident his physical advantages will make the difference, du Plessis also expects to finish Usman.
Dricus du Plessis with Edge in Strength, Size
Although du Plessis is fully aware that Usman is one of the best wrestlers in the UFC, the South African is confident his size and strength will be enough to neutralize the Nigerian's biggest weapon. He also acknowledged that his wrestling had been questioned in previous fights, but insisted those issues have now been fixed.
Speaking to Ag Fight, Du Plessis explained why he believes fighting in his natural weight class gives him a clear advantage over Usman.
"Yeah, I just believe that, obviously, his credentials as a pure wrestler is next level," Du Plessis began. "He's incredible and what he's achieved. But at the end of the day this is my weight division, I'm the best in the world. Coming up to this weight I'm bigger, I'm stronger. And with the striking, it won't be a fight. With the wrestling I can't wait to prove, on the wrestling and grappling aspect, that every mistake that there was has been fixed."
A former welterweight champion, Usman spent almost his entire UFC career competing at 170 pounds and will be making only his second appearance as a middleweight. As for Du Plessis, the South African is a natural middleweight and a former champion of the division.
Dricus du Plessis Hungry for Win inside Distance
Having lost the middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev in August 2025, Du Plessis is looking to put himself right back into title contention. According to the South African, an ordinary victory won't be enough. To leave no doubts about deserving another title shot, he believes he has to deliver a statement performance against Usman.
"He hasn't been submitted in quite a while, that would be sweet, but I don't really care how it happens," Du Plessis said. "Will it be a finish? Almost 100% it will be a finish. But will it be by knockout, TKO, submission? And even if it is a decision, I'm in there to go and perform and win the fight no matter what. [...] I don't really think it's about the fight, I think it's about the performance. And look on Saturday night, the performance will make sure that I get that title shot. The performance will leave no doubt that I am the best middleweight in the world right now."
Usman has built a reputation throughout his career for his durability, having been finished only twice as a professional. Du Plessis, on the other hand, has earned a reputation as one of the division's most aggressive finishers, with 20 victories coming by knockout, TKO or submission. If the South African delivers the finish he expects, it would represent one of the biggest wins of his career.
Regardless of who gets his hand raised, the bout carries major title implications. A convincing victory would likely earn either Du Plessis or Usman a middleweight title shot.
