Dricus Du Plessis vs Kamaru Usman Result: Who Won the Match

Read our full blog below if you are looking for the Dricus Du Plessis vs Kamaru Usman result. Although the betting market thought this would be close to even. But it wasn't. Dricus Du Plessis dominated Kamaru Usman from the opening bell, delivering a lopsided decision win that instantly puts him back into the middleweight title conversation. Here's the full result, how the fight played out, and what it means going forward.

Table Summary: Dricus Du Plessis vs Kamaru Usman Result

How the Fight Unfolded

This was a one-sided affair almost from the start. A significant size and power advantage was obvious early, with Du Plessis hurting Usman multiple times in the opening round.

He kept the pressure on in round two with heavy step-in knees, and showed he was more than capable defending against Usman's occasional takedown attempts throughout the fight, which was contested almost entirely on the feet.

By the final bell, Du Plessis had out-landed Usman 136 significant strikes to 92, finishing with a 139-99 edge in total strikes across the full 25 minutes. All three judges scored it lopsided in his favour, with one card as wide as 50-45.

Career Context

This was Du Plessis's first fight in nearly a year, since losing his middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 last August. He'd previously won his first nine fights inside the UFC and held the belt from January 2024 until that defeat.

Usman's story is more complicated. The former long-reigning UFC welterweight champion had spent the first half of the year campaigning for a title shot against welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, but the UFC instead booked Makhachev's first defence against Ian Machado Garry.

Rather than wait, Usman opted to chase a faster route to gold at middleweight, describing himself as a "moneyweight" fighter unconcerned with which division he competes in. This was only his second fight at 185lbs, his first, in October 2023, was a short-notice loss to Khamzat Chimaev on just 10 days' preparation.

The Middleweight Title Picture

Here's the twist: the middleweight title has changed hands since Du Plessis lost it. Sean Strickland dethroned Chimaev at UFC 328 back in May, meaning the man Du Plessis is chasing for a rematch isn't the man who beat him, but a fighter Du Plessis has already defeated twice before.

"I said a win wouldn't get me a title shot," Du Plessis said after the fight. "But, damn, a performance like that will."

Du Plessis's Reaction

Du Plessis was gracious toward his opponent while pointedly contrasting the fight's style with Chimaev's approach: "You guys deserve fights like these, not guys lying on top of other guys to get some dumbass decision win. Thank you, Kamaru Usman, for bringing the best out in me, and thank you for giving your life up over so many years to entertain these fans. I'm back in the winner's circle, baby. Let's get my belt back."

He also spoke about the personal significance of the win: "I had to get up. There's so many South African kids that look up to me. It's bigger than me. I can't go lie down."

UFC Fighters: What's Next

Du Plessis has made his intentions clear: he wants a shot at Sean Strickland, a fighter he's already beaten twice on his way up the rankings. Given how dominant this performance was, and that he's the No. 2-ranked middleweight contender, it's a genuinely realistic next step.

For Usman, this marks his second unsuccessful trip to middleweight and drops him to four losses in his last five fights, a difficult moment in the career of one of the most accomplished fighters of his generation.

How to Bet on the Next UFC Event

• Match winner: Check the UFC matches page at Sportsbet.io for upcoming fight odds.
• Futures: If a Du Plessis vs Strickland title fight is confirmed, check upcoming UFC events for early markets.

Matchmaking speculation moves quickly after a result like this one, so treat any names discussed here as developing rather than confirmed, so always check the latest news before you bet.

Play Responsibly

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FAQs: Du Plessis vs Usman Result

Who won the Du Plessis vs Usman fight?

Dricus Du Plessis won by unanimous decision, with scorecards of 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46.

Why did Kamaru Usman move up to middleweight?

He was passed over for a welterweight title shot against Islam Makhachev, who instead defended against Ian Machado Garry. Usman chose to pursue a faster path to a title at middleweight instead.

Who is the current UFC middleweight champion?

Sean Strickland, who beat Khamzat Chimaev for the title at UFC 328 in May 2026. Du Plessis has beaten Strickland twice previously.

Will Dricus Du Plessis get a title shot next?

Nothing is officially confirmed, but Du Plessis has publicly called for a fight against Sean Strickland, and his dominant win over Usman makes a strong case for it.

What is Dricus Du Plessis's professional record?

He improved to 24-3 with this win.

Where can I bet on the next UFC event?

You can check live odds and betting markets on the UFC matches page and upcoming UFC events page at Sportsbet.io.

Get Ready for the Next Card

Du Plessis's dominant win has reopened the middleweight title picture in a genuinely compelling way. Check the latest odds on the UFC matches page, browse upcoming UFC events, and see the current promotions available at Sportsbet.io.

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