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Frankie Edgar warns Kamaru Usman about Dricus du Plessis' unorthodox style

2026-07-18 · Dricus du Plessis · Player Focus

Frankie Edgar has warned Kamaru Usman about the unorthodox style of Dricus du Plessis ahead of their middleweight clash at UFC Oklahoma City on July 18, 2026. The UFC Hall of Famer believes Usman will need to rely on his well-rounded skillset to counter the South African's awkward approach.

What did Frankie Edgar say about Dricus du Plessis?

Edgar, who shares a long friendship with Usman, highlighted the challenges posed by du Plessis' rhythm and unorthodox style. He suggested that Usman should focus on his grappling to secure a victory, drawing parallels with du Plessis' previous fight against Khamzat Chimaev.

'I think you can take the Khamzat fight to get some information on that fight based on Kamaru’s fight with him and DDP’s fight,' Edgar said. 'If Kamaru can go out there and implement the same plan, taking him down and constantly holding him down, I think it’s gonna be a pretty one-way fight.'

Why is Dricus du Plessis' takedown defense a concern?

Dricus du Plessis' takedown defense has been a point of concern since his first UFC loss to Khamzat Chimaev. In that fight, Chimaev attempted 17 takedowns and succeeded 12 times, significantly impacting du Plessis' overall takedown defense statistic, which now stands at 34%.

Usman, on the other hand, has a 44% takedown accuracy, but this was also affected by his last fight where he took down Joaquin Buckley four times with 13 attempts.

What is the significance of the friendship between Edgar and Usman?

Edgar and Usman's friendship dates back to 2020 when they visited a youth boxing club in Columbia together. Edgar described the trip as 'life changing' to the UFC, highlighting the bond between the two fighters under the same management team.

What's next for Dricus du Plessis and Kamaru Usman?

Both fighters are set to face off in the main event of UFC Oklahoma City on July 18, 2026. The outcome of this match will be crucial for both fighters as they aim to solidify their positions in the middleweight division.

More Dricus du Plessis news →