Dricus du Plessis declares himself No. 1 contender after Usman win

Dricus du Plessis has staked his claim to the UFC middleweight title just three months after losing it to Khamzat Chimaev. The South African star crushed former champion Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC Fight Night 281 on 18 July 2026, setting up a potential trilogy with Sean Strickland.

What happened in Oklahoma City?

Du Plessis (24-3 MMA, 10-1 UFC) handed Usman (21-5 MMA, 16-4 UFC) a one-sided decision victory at Paycom Center. The 30-year-old South African controlled every round, landing crisp combinations while stifling Usman’s takedowns. The win catapulted du Plessis back to the top of the middleweight rankings and into title-contender conversations.

Why Cormier doubts a Strickland trilogy

Daniel Cormier, the former UFC champion and analyst, questioned whether fans would tune in for a third fight between du Plessis and Strickland. Du Plessis beat Strickland twice in title bouts before dropping the belt to Chimaev in April. Strickland then upset Chimaev in June, but Cormier argued du Plessis’s 2-0 record over the current champ could hurt ticket sales.

“Do we want to see them fight for a third time? I do because I’m a purist,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “But what does the general fan think when they’ve seen this act twice-and it got worse the second time by DDP?”

What comes next for du Plessis?

Nassourdine Imavov, riding a five-fight winning streak, also called for a title shot after du Plessis’s performance. The Dagestani fighter argued his recent form outweighs any trilogy fatigue. Dana White has not announced the next challenger, but du Plessis’s dominant return makes him the bookmakers’ favorite for the next shot.

The UFC has not confirmed a timeline, but matchmakers will weigh Cormier’s concerns against du Plessis’s momentum. A trilogy with Strickland would headline a stacked middleweight division, while a tilt with Imavov would offer a fresh storyline.

The numbers behind du Plessis’s resurgence

Du Plessis improved to 10-1 inside the UFC with Saturday’s win. His striking accuracy (58% significant strikes landed) and wrestling control (6 of 7 takedowns defended) outclassed Usman. The victory also snapped a two-fight losing streak that began with the Chimaev loss.

Imavov, meanwhile, has not lost since March 2024 and holds a 12-3 UFC record. His next fight could decide whether du Plessis waits for Strickland or faces a hungry challenger first.