Former UFC welterweight king Kamaru Usman faces an uncertain future in mixed martial arts after suffering a decisive defeat to Dricus Du Plessis on Saturday. Competing in the middleweight division, Usman, 39, was outclassed by his 32-year-old South African opponent, who secured a dominant points victory with scorecards reading 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46 in the Oklahoma City main event.
This latest setback marks a challenging period for Usman, who has now lost four of his last five bouts. His recent run includes two defeats to British-Jamaican Leon Edwards, a narrow points loss to Khamzat Chimaev in his middleweight debut, and a win against Joaquin Buckley at welterweight last June. The former pound-for-pound number one hinted at pre-fight issues and an early 'thumb-punch' to the eye that compromised his vision, stating, 'I was pretty compromised. When you start seeing two of the big boys... it's a little delayed to get out of the way of those shots.'
For Du Plessis, the victory represents a crucial rebound after his own middleweight title loss to Khamzat Chimaev in August. The South African displayed superior striking and effectively negated Usman's renowned wrestling prowess, appearing to have the veteran on wobbly legs on several occasions. Du Plessis's performance has significantly bolstered his standing in the middleweight division, positioning him for another potential shot at the championship belt.
Usman, despite the loss, refrained from announcing his retirement immediately, stating, 'We'll see where there's next opportunities at.' He drew parallels to fighters like Michael Bisping, who seized opportunities to become middleweight champion later in their careers. However, the path forward for the Nigerian-American fighter remains unclear, with speculation rife among fans and pundits regarding his next move or whether he will choose to step away from the sport.
Meanwhile, Du Plessis's triumph has reignited his title aspirations. He had previously ended Sean Strickland's first middleweight reign in 2024 and successfully defended the title against Israel Adesanya before losing it to Chimaev. With Chimaev having recently lost the belt to Strickland in May, Du Plessis's chances of reclaiming the championship may have improved, although a potential third clash between Strickland and Chimaev, stemming from a bitter feud, could delay his immediate title shot.