UFC Oklahoma City live blog: Dricus du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman
· Yahoo Sports
This is the live blog for Dricus du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman, the middleweight main event for Saturday’s UFC Oklahoma City card at Paycom Center in Oklahoma.
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A former UFC middleweight champion, du Plessis has been out of action for nearly a year, last fighting in August when he dropped his title to Khamzat Chimaev in a defeat defined by du Plessis’ inability to stop takedowns. Now, “DDP” is finally ready to get back in the cage and make another run at the belt, and he starts with one of the best wrestlers in welterweight history, Kamaru Usman.
Like du Plessis, Usman is a former champion, holding the UFC’s welterweight title for enough years to nearly get into the conversation for divisional GOAT alongside Georges St-Pierre. An upset loss to Leon Edwards ended all that and started a tough slide for Usman, who rebounded with a win last summer over Joaquin Buckley in Atlanta. Now, Usman hopes to earn a title shot with a win over the former middleweight champion, either at middleweight or welterweight.
Check out the UFC Oklahoma City: du Plessis vs. Usman live blog below.
Pre Fight
Fence grabs, illegal knees, and more… It was a bit of a strange affair in the middleweight co-main between Jared Cannonier and Christian Leroy Duncan. Totally unrelated to the action in the cage, but reigning UFC champ Justin Gaethje definitely got the biggest pop from the crowd when the production team showed him on the big screen.
So with the crowd buzzing, and a killer promo package airing, Du Plessis and Usman finally made their way to the octagon. Ever the showman, Usman danced his way through the fighter checkpoint with the legendary Henri Hooft and Trevor Wittman in his corner. Not to be outdone, Du Plessis hit the arena with his signature ‘Live It Up’ by Airbourne walkout song.
Round 1
With a touch of the gloves, we are underway! Du Plessis immediately takes center of hte octagon and lands a kick, followed by a counter left. Usman feints the takedown, but Du Plessis doesn’t bite. Du Plessis connects with a leg kick and a left high kick. Usman blocks a quick one-two but doesn’t follow up with his own offense. Usman eats a left jab and misses with an overhand. Du Plessis clubs him with a right hand and momentarily wobbles him. Usman is clearly struggling with the range as Du Plessis picks up the momentum.
Settling down, Usman finally finds a home for an overhand right but eats a jab as he backtracks. Both men are just trading leather in the center. Du Plessis connects with an uppercut as he continues to find his rhythm. Usman finally clinches up and shoves Du Plessis into the fence. An accidental low blow forces the ref to separate them, and Du Plessis responds with another left high kick. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Du Plessis.