Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis returns to action this weekend against former Welterweight kingpin Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC Oklahoma City, which goes down Sat., July 18, 2026, inside Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Since then, the Middleweight division has gotten weird.
“There should only be one opinion,” Du Plessis said during UFC Oklahoma City media day when asked about a Strickland vs. Chimaev rematch. “Between the two of them, they have an amazing zero title defenses. So, how do you warrant a rematch? In that case, I have two, so give me a rematch then. I have two wins over the current champion. It makes zero sense.”
Honestly, the former champion has a pretty valid point.
Du Plessis has two wins over Strickland, defended the title twice and is now trying to fight his way back into the championship mix. But even with that resume, “Stillknocks” does not believe simply beating Usman this weekend should automatically guarantee him another title shot.
For Du Plessis, it has to be about the performance.
“I don’t believe a victory alone can be enough,” Du Plessis said. “I think my resume, definitely, but I don’t believe just a victory over Usman necessarily gives me a title shot, and the same for him. The performance. Going out there and putting on a performance that eliminates any doubt that I’m the best in the world, that’s what’s going to guarantee me a shot at that title.”
So, who should get Strickland next?
“Strickland will be ready at the end of the year,” Du Plessis said. “I do believe Imavov vs. Strickland is the fight to make. It’s the right fight to make.”
With the Middleweight division suddenly loaded with deserving contenders, UFC has several directions it could go.
Chimaev wants his rematch. Imavov has the best case. Du Plessis could jump right back into the mix with a big win. And Usman has a chance to blow the whole thing up this weekend.
So, yeah, things could look very different by Monday morning.
But as far as Du Plessis is concerned, Strickland vs. Chimaev 2 is not the answer.
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