Kamaru Usman Unfazed by Size Difference Ahead of Dricus du Plessis Fight

Kamaru Usman Unfazed by Size Difference Ahead of Dricus du Plessis Fight

Kamaru Usman, the former welterweight champion, is set to face Dricus du Plessis at UFC Oklahoma City on July 18. The Nigerian Nightmare has been addressing fan concerns about his size difference with du Plessis, who is a middleweight.

Usman has said he didn't know he was definitely fighting du Plessis until their main event clash was made official just four weeks out. This means that 'The Nigerian Nightmare' had very little time to specifically prepare for a middleweight bout after previously campaigning for a welterweight title shot.

What happened?

Usman has been vocal about his preparation for the fight, stating that he's been training for a middleweight bout. However, he's also acknowledged that he's not sure if he deserves a middleweight title shot with a win at UFC Oklahoma City.

Why it matters for Kamaru Usman

A win over du Plessis would put Usman in a great place at middleweight, considering his history with Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev. However, Usman has also acknowledged that Nassourdine Imavov in particular is a contender that would still deserve his opportunity due to the win streak he's put together.

What comes next?

Usman believes that being smaller than his opponent would be a bigger deal if he was coming up against a grappler. "It makes a bigger difference if, let's say, I'm fighting a full-fledged grappler/wrestler and they're an extra 15 pounds heavier than me," Usman said. "Then absolutely that makes a difference because that's a guy that's going to get a hold of you. He's going to wear on you. He's going to definitely try to drag you down and you have to deal with that extra 15 pounds on top of you, on you."

Usman's coach has said they'll wrestle if their opponent doesn't in order to prove the point that they've corrected previous mistakes. A win over du Plessis would be a significant statement for Usman, and he's confident in his ability to come out on top.

Usman's experience in taking a middleweight matchup on short notice back in 2023 will be crucial in this fight. He held his own against Khamzat Chimaev in that bout, and he's confident that he can do the same against du Plessis.

The Nigerian Nightmare is ready to put on a show at UFC Oklahoma City, and he's not worried about the size difference between him and du Plessis. With his wrestling background and experience in taking on bigger opponents, Usman is confident that he'll come out on top.

Usman's fight against du Plessis is set to take place on July 18 at UFC Oklahoma City. The Nigerian Nightmare is ready to put on a show, and he's not worried about the size difference between him and du Plessis.

category: match_report