Dricus Du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman headlines UFC Fight Night 281

A pair of former champions headline UFC Fight Nigh 281 in Oklahoma City on July 18. Former middleweight titleholder Dricus Du Plessis (23-3) faces former welterweight kingpin Kamaru Usman (21-4) at Paycom Center in a middleweight match. The fight promotion announced the news on Saturday.

>For Du Plessis, it will be his first fight since losing the belt to Khamzat Chimaev last August. "Stillknocks" will be looking to rebound and remain in the top tier of the division.

>Usman has been out of action for a year. He last fought in June 2025, defeating Joaquin Buckley via unanimous decision. "The Nigerian Nightmare" didn't compete at all in 2024. At 39, Usman wants to make one last run at a UFC championship. A win over the former champion could land him the opportunity.

>The event will mark the promotion's third visit to Oklahoma City and their first trip to Oklahoma's capital since 2017.