Dricus du Plessis Wins Over Kamaru Usman, Reveals Friendship Origin wi

Dricus du Plessis returned to winning ways by earning a lopsided unanimous decision win over Kamaru Usman (21-5) in the main event at UFC Oklahoma City on July 18, 2026.

What happened?

The victory marked a significant comeback for du Plessis, who had been on a losing streak. Meanwhile, Colby Covington (17-5) defeated Arman Tsarukyan (24-3) in a massive upset in a wrestling match at RAF 11 to be crowned the inaugural crossover cruiserweight champion in Milwaukee on the same day.

Why it matters for Dricus du Plessis

In a surprising turn of events, du Plessis revealed that his friendship with Covington began after a heated exchange over Dustin Poirier's drinking habits. Covington had recommended non-alcoholic beer to Poirier, who had recently had a run-in with the law due to public intoxication. Du Plessis, however, believed that drinking non-alcoholic beer was a graver crime than anything Poirier had done.

How the friendship developed

Covington then invited du Plessis to share some beers, laying the foundation for a friendship. In an interview with Full Send MMA, du Plessis explained, "I was giving him sh*t because he was giving Dustin Poirier sh*t and telling him to drink alcohol-free beer and that's a bigger crime than anything Dustin Poirier has ever done. I told [Covington] that and then he reached out to me. He's like, 'Listen, they have normal beers too, let's get some normal beers with you.' So, I'm a Colby fan."

What comes next?

The friendship between du Plessis and Covington is a testament to the power of sportsmanship and camaraderie in the world of MMA. As du Plessis continues to compete in the UFC, it will be interesting to see how their friendship develops and whether they will continue to support each other in their respective careers.

And while du Plessis's victory over Usman was a significant win, it's clear that his friendship with Covington is one of the most unexpected and heartwarming stories to come out of the UFC in recent times.

So, what's next for du Plessis and Covington? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure-their friendship is one for the ages.

But in the meantime, du Plessis will continue to focus on his training and preparation for his next fight, with Covington likely cheering him on from the sidelines.

And as for Covington, he'll continue to compete in the UFC, with du Plessis likely to be in his corner, cheering him on.

The two fighters have already shown that they can put their differences aside and become close friends, and it will be interesting to see how their friendship develops in the future.

But for now, let's just say that du Plessis and Covington are an unlikely duo that's taking the world of MMA by storm.

And who knows? Maybe one day, they'll even share a beer together.

But until then, we'll just have to wait and see what the future holds for these two unlikely friends.

And as for du Plessis, he's already looking forward to his next fight, with Covington likely to be in his corner, cheering him on.