Du Plessis makes winning return to UFC with dominant decision over Usman

Dricus Du Plessis returned to the UFC after nearly a year away, defeating Nigeria's Kamaru Usman by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) in the middleweight main event of UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City on July 19, 2026. The South African fighter, who holds a 24-3 MMA record, previously held the middleweight belt from January 2024 until August 2025 when he lost it to Chimaev. The dominant victory marked a significant comeback for Du Plessis in the middleweight division.