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Du Plessis Defeats Usman by Unanimous Decision in UFC Fight Night Main Event
Dricus Du Plessis beat Kamaru Usman by unanimous decision in the middleweight main event on July 18. All three judges scored the bout 50-45.
Jul 19, 1:33 AM·1m read10 sources
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Dricus Du Plessis controlled every phase of his UFC Fight Night middleweight main event against Kamaru Usman on July 18, earning a unanimous decision victory with all three judges scoring the bout 50-45. The South African middleweight landed cleaner strikes on the feet and dominated grappling exchanges.
He opened a cut above Usman's left eye with heavier ground strikes in rounds three and four. Usman, the Nigerian-American former welterweight champion who moved up in weight, managed brief moments of offense but was repeatedly taken down and controlled against the cage.
By the fifth round he circled defensively with little left to offer. The win keeps Du Plessis in the middleweight title picture after he lost his belt earlier in 2026. Usman entered the fight on a four-fight losing skid across two weight classes and faces questions about his future at age 38.
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CorroborationModerate · 10 sources
