UFC Oklahoma analysis: Kamaru Usman vs Dricus Du Plessis predictions and preview
UFC Oklahoma will be headlined by former middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman on July 18 at the Paycom Center.
Usman is coming off a huge win against surging welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley, while Du Plessis arrives off a loss to Khamzat Chimaev, which cost him the middleweight strap.
‘DDP’ is currently the number-two-ranked contender, with number-one-ranked Chimaev recently losing his title to Sean Strickland.
The Chechen most likely needs to win another fight before earning a second shot at middleweight gold.
Sports News Blitz’s MMA writer Luke Mullaney previews the notable Du Plessis vs Usman clash, as well as the implications the fight will have on the middleweight division.
Bet the house on Usman
Usman may open as the underdog, with the bookmakers giving DDP around a 75-78% chance of winning. However, Usman will win the fight.
Firstly, it’s important to understand the vast skill gap between divisions.
Historically, when fighters initially move up in weight, they find much success in their first few fights in their new division.
We have already seen Usman have a close fight against Chimaev, who gave DDP his only loss in the UFC.
Chimaev beat him with his offensive wrestling in the most dominant five-round win from a title challenger in recent middleweight history.
Usman vs Chimaev a key reference point
In Usman’s fight against Chimaev, he took the fight on 10 days' notice, with no real training camp. And yet still, he forced a close decision.
In actuality, the fight should have been a draw.
Usman lost the first round 10-8, the second round was close but awarded to Chimaev 10-9, and in the third round, Usman dominated but still lost 10-9.
If that fight were to go five rounds, Usman would have won.
Already proving himself in the division against the man who dominated Du Plessis, Usman will have had a full training camp coming into this fight.
Usman’s straight punches and jabs are elite and will be a massive factor in the fight, and will interrupt DDP’s wild entries.
The Nigerian-American also has elite offensive wrestling, strong cardio and better all-around stand-up than Chimaev.
He also probably has the best takedown defence in UFC history, so I believe he will completely control wherever the fight goes.
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Du Plessis’ struggles
When opponents dictate the fight against Du Plessis, that’s when he looks his worst.
Usman has defeated current middleweight champion Sean Strickland by unanimous decision, who gave Du Plessis a close fight in their first match-up.
Strickland’s jab-heavy style gave Du Plessis problems, along with his great takedown defence.
Usman has arguably better takedown defence and better straight punching, which will be a nightmare for Du Plessis.
It’s hard to see any way in which Du Plessis wins. It seems fans have forgotten how great Usman is.
Fight prediction
Usman to win via decision, or a four-or five-round finish via ground and pound.
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