The South African MMA star marked his return to the Octagon with a composed victory over former UFC champion Kamaru Usman, reminding fans why he’s still one of the sport’s biggest names
Oklahoma City, USA (20 July 2026)- If there were any questions about whether Dricus du Plessis was still one of the UFC’s biggest middleweight threats, he answered them the best way he knows how, by winning.
The South African star made a successful return to the Octagon on Saturday night, earning a unanimous decision victory over former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the headline bout at UFC Oklahoma City.
It marked Du Plessis’ first fight since losing the middleweight title last year, but there was never a sense that he had anything to prove. Instead, “Stillknocks” showed exactly why that nickname continues to stick.
From the opening exchanges, Du Plessis fought with the confidence and aggression that have become his trademark, repeatedly finding his range and forcing Usman to dig deep throughout the five-round contest.
The former champion refused to back down and mounted a spirited challenge as the fight wore on, but Du Plessis remained composed under pressure to secure a convincing win on the judges’ scorecards.
The victory is another reminder that the Pretoria-born fighter remains firmly in the conversation among the UFC’s elite middleweights.
Having already built a résumé that includes wins over the likes of Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker and Sean Strickland, Saturday’s performance was another statement that his journey back to the top is well underway.
After a difficult end to his championship reign, Du Plessis couldn’t have asked for a better way to kick-start the next chapter of his career.
Team SA Ready to Pedal for Glory at African Road Cycling Championships
Records, Personal Bests and Paralympic Stars Shine at Western Cape Para-Sport Trials
by 
