UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs Usman Odds, Picks & Live Streaming
The middleweight division takes center stage on Saturday, July 18, 2026, as former champion Dricus Du Plessis welcomes former welterweight king Kamaru Usman to 185 pounds in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City.
It’s a fascinating crossroads fight. Du Plessis is looking to jump straight back into the title picture after losing the middleweight belt, while Usman hopes to prove he still belongs among the elite at 39 years old after spending most of his legendary career at welterweight.
For bettors, the biggest question isn’t experience; it’s whether Father Time has finally caught the “Nigerian Nightmare.” Master fight night with our expert fight betting guide featuring betting strategies for every matchup.
Du Plessis vs Usman Odds Outlook
| Fight Lines | Odds | Bet Now! |
|---|---|---|
| Du Plessis Moneyline | -240 | Place Bet @ BetMGM |
| Usman Moneyline | +195 | Place Bet @ BetMGM |
| O/U | 4.5 Rounds | -125 | -105 | Place Bet @ BetMGM |
Expert UFC Picks: Du Plessis vs Usman Top 3 Bets
🥇 Best Bet: Dricus Du Plessis Moneyline (-240)
Du Plessis is younger, naturally bigger, and still competing near his athletic peak. Usman’s championship wrestling remains dangerous, but moving back to middleweight after another lengthy layoff creates difficult questions against one of the division’s strongest pressure fighters. Best Bet: Dricus Du Plessis Moneyline (-240)
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Pick 2: Over 3.5 Rounds
Usman’s durability and championship experience shouldn’t be overlooked. Even if Du Plessis controls much of the fight, the former welterweight champion has repeatedly shown the toughness to survive deep into championship bouts, making the Over an attractive betting angle. Pick: Over 3.5 Rounds.
Pick 3: Dricus Du Plessis by KO/TKO
Du Plessis owns twenty finishes in twenty-three victories and continually overwhelms opponents with relentless pressure. If Usman’s pace drops late—as age and inactivity suggest it might—the South African has every tool needed to force a championship-round stoppage. Value Play: Dricus Du Plessis by KO/TKO.
Tale of the Tape
| Category | Dricus Du Plessis | Kamaru Usman |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 23-3 | 21-4 |
| Age | 32 | 39 |
| Height | 6’1″ | 6’0″ |
| Reach | 76″ | 76″ |
| Stance | Switch | Switch |
| Sig. Strikes Landed/Min | 5.18 | 4.16 |
| Takedown Average | 2.22 | 2.79 |
| Submission Average | 0.71 | 0.09 |
Matchup Breakdown
Wrestling Edge: Usman
Even at 39, Usman remains one of the greatest wrestlers in UFC history. If he consistently chains takedowns together, he can slow Du Plessis’ relentless pressure and steal valuable rounds.
Pressure Edge: Du Plessis
Few fighters maintain the pace DDP brings. His awkward striking, relentless forward movement, and physical strength force opponents into uncomfortable exchanges from start to finish.
Athleticism Edge: Du Plessis
Seven years is a massive gap in championship MMA. Du Plessis enters in his physical prime, while Usman must answer serious questions about age, inactivity, and whether his body can still execute his wrestling-heavy style.
Du Plessis vs Usman Stats & Facts
- Du Plessis has finished 20 of his 23 career victories.
- Usman is 39 years old and moving back to middleweight.
- Usman has fought only once in the last year and a half.
- Du Plessis is seven years younger than the former champion.
- Both fighters have 76-inch reaches.
- Usman averages 2.79 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Where to Watch
- Event: UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs Usman
- Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026
- Streaming: Paramount+
Final Prediction
Usman should make this competitive early. His wrestling, championship IQ, and experience are good enough to win rounds, especially if he can establish top control.
The problem is sustaining that game plan over five rounds against a younger, stronger middleweight who refuses to slow down. As the fight progresses, Du Plessis’ pace and physicality should begin taking over. Eventually, the pressure becomes too much.
- Prediction: Dricus Du Plessis wins by TKO
- ✅ Best Bet: Dricus Du Plessis Moneyline (-260)
- 🔥 Value Play: Dricus Du Plessis by KO/TKO
- 💰 Safer Pick: Over 3.5 Rounds
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