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Du Plessis Dominates Usman, White Shuts Down Retirement Talk

Dricus du Plessis dominated Kamaru Usman at UFC Oklahoma City, while Dana White shut down retirement talk for the former champ.

Du Plessis Dominates Usman, White Shuts Down Retirement Talk

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UFC Oklahoma City delivered some big moments, with Dricus du Plessis putting on a clinic against Kamaru Usman in the main event. The fallout from that fight, plus some interesting takes on other big names, is what we’re diving into today.

Du Plessis Dominates Usman

Dricus du Plessis secured a decisive victory over Kamaru Usman at UFC Oklahoma City, winning by unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the fight 50-45. Du Plessis controlled the pace throughout the five-round middleweight bout, consistently landing significant strikes and out-grappling Usman. This performance marks a significant win for Du Plessis, who effectively neutralized Usman’s offense and showcased his own well-rounded skills. The fight was a clear display of Du Plessis’s strategy and execution, leaving little doubt about the outcome.

White Shuts Down Retirement Talk

Following his loss to Dricus du Plessis, speculation arose about Kamaru Usman’s future in the sport, with some suggesting retirement. However, UFC President Dana White quickly dismissed these calls during the post-fight press conference. White stated that Usman is still a top fighter and that he doesn’t believe the former champion should consider retirement. He emphasized Usman’s continued competitiveness and his ability to perform at an elite level, despite the recent setback. White’s comments indicate that the UFC still sees value in Usman’s presence in the octagon.

What’s Next for Du Plessis?

Dricus du Plessis’s dominant win over Kamaru Usman raises questions about his next move in the middleweight division. While the victory was impressive, some analysts are debating what it truly means for his title aspirations. Beating a former champion like Usman is a significant achievement, but it’s unclear if this performance immediately positions Du Plessis for a title shot. The middleweight landscape is competitive, and Du Plessis will likely need to continue building on this momentum to secure his place at the top.

Poatan’s Performance Under Scrutiny

Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira’s recent performance at UFC Casa Branca has drawn criticism from a former rival, who described him as “slow and not as sharp.” This assessment suggests that Poatan may not have been at his best in his last outing. Such comments from a past opponent can add an interesting layer to the narrative surrounding a fighter’s form and future prospects. It highlights the constant scrutiny top fighters face and how their performances are analyzed by both fans and fellow competitors.

Jon Jones’ Coach on a Potential Return

Jon Jones’s coach has expressed disapproval of a potential return to the UFC for the heavyweight champion, stating that Jones “has already built his legacy.” This perspective suggests that his coach believes Jones has nothing left to prove in the sport. Given Jones’s storied career and numerous accomplishments, it’s understandable why his team might feel he’s achieved all there is to achieve. This stance from his coach adds to the ongoing discussion about Jones’s future and whether he will step into the octagon again.

From the community

Over on r/MMA, fans are talking about this: New UFC META Ranking Comparison.

Sources

Every source behind today's roundup (14)

We summarize the day’s news in our own words. Full credit to the outlets below for the original reporting, click through to read their work:

Open Scoring MMA is a daily AI-produced MMA and UFC news podcast. Listen to today’s episode, read the full Feed, or get every episode by email.

Episode transcript

Read the full episode transcript

Welcome to Open Scoring MMA. This is episode 30 for July 19, 2026, your daily look at what’s happening now and next across the world of MMA and UFC.

Dricus Du Plessis is back in the win column, and he did it in style, absolutely routing Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC Oklahoma City. This was a five-round unanimous decision, a dominant performance that saw Du Plessis pick apart the former welterweight king. The scorecards read 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46, showing just how comprehensive this victory was. Du Plessis, who was reportedly a former champion, and he needed a big statement to get back into the title picture. He definitely delivered.

After the fight, Du Plessis was feeling confident, telling ESPN MMA, quote, “You guys deserve fights like these, not guys lying on top of other guys to get some dumbass decision win,” end quote. He also added, quote, “I said a win wouldn’t get me a title shot, but damned if a performance like that would give me a title shot,” end quote. He’s clearly gunning for that strap again, and with a performance like that, it’s hard to argue against him. He even showed some class, thanking Usman, quote, “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,” end quote. That’s a good look for DDP.

Kamaru Usman, on the other hand, was not happy with the judges. He told ESPN MMA, quote, “I’m no sorry loser, but I mean 50-45? What were the judges watching?” end quote. It’s tough to take a loss like that, especially when you feel the scoring was off. But Dana White, the UFC president, was quick to shut down any talk of Usman retiring. White told Bloody Elbow, quote, “Obviously it was a great fight, you know, fighting a much bigger guy and he’s got a great chin,” end quote. He continued, quote, “He’s still got it, it’s not like it’s like, ‘Oh, Usman is done and he should retire’, he had a great fight tonight. He’s got to go home, rest and heal up and then figure out what is next,” end quote. So, it sounds like we’ll be seeing Usman back in the cage. Usman himself is ready for whatever comes next, telling Bloody Elbow, quote, “Either one, you know, wherever the opportunity is at, that’s where I’m going,” end quote. It’s clear the competitive fire is still burning for the “Nigerian Nightmare.”

Speaking of former champions, Jon Jones’ future is once again a hot topic. The former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion recently opened the door for an eventual return to the UFC, which has the MMA world buzzing. However, we’re hearing that his coach isn’t so keen on the idea. Reportedly, there’s a belief that Jones has already built his legacy and doesn’t need to risk it. It’s an interesting dynamic when a fighter’s coach is trying to talk them out of a comeback. You gotta wonder what’s going on behind the scenes there. Jones has nothing left to prove, but the allure of the cage is a powerful thing.

Over in Poland, former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz weighed in on the recent UFC Casa Branca card, specifically the clash between Alex Pereira and his opponent. Blachowicz described Pereira’s performance as, quote, “Slow and not as sharp,” end quote. That’s a pretty blunt assessment from a former rival, and it gives us a little more insight into how other fighters are viewing Pereira’s recent outing. It’s always interesting to hear the perspective of someone who’s actually been in there with one of these guys.

Now, let’s talk about some other fight news. Colby Covington, “Chaos” himself, was in action recently, but not in the UFC. Word is he defeated Arman Tsarukyan to win the inaugural RAF Cruiserweight Crossover Championship. This was a featured match, and Covington, a former Division 1 All-American wrestler, took on the smaller Tsarukyan. It’s always a little wild to see UFC fighters competing in other promotions, especially for new titles. Covington is always looking for a way to stay in the headlines, and this certainly does it.

DUKE: Nora, I gotta ask you about this Du Plessis fight. My eyes told me he looked absolutely phenomenal. He was sharp, he was aggressive, he was just on another level.

NORA: Indeed. It’s a good reminder that while data provides a strong foundation, the unpredictable nature of combat sports means there will always be outliers. Du Plessis’s performance was certainly one of them.

DUKE: Absolutely. And speaking of predictions, let’s get to our OSM Pick for today. We’re looking at the potential fight between Maciej Rozanski and Ibragim Chuzhigaev. Our system is picking Ibragim Chuzhigaev to win, with about a 71 percent chance. The betting line implies around 64 percent, so we’re seeing a little more value there. The top reasons our model likes Chuzhigaev are that the style favors him, and the finishing favors him. This is a lean confidence pick, but we’re definitely higher on Chuzhigaev than the market is.

Before we sign off, I just wanted to give a quick shout-out to the MMA community on Reddit. They’re having a field day with the new UFC META Ranking Comparison. Always good to see the fans diving deep into the stats and sparking some lively discussions.

That’s all for today’s Open Scoring MMA. We’ll be back tomorrow with more news, analysis, and predictions. Until then, keep those hands up and your chins down.

Before you go, two quick things. Check out our free Fight Tracker at tracker dot open scoring m m a dot com, with every upcoming UFC and PFL card, live odds, and where to watch, all in one place. And follow us on YouTube, just search Open Scoring MMA, for breaking news alerts, fight breakdowns, and videos you won’t get here on the feed. That’s it for today’s Open Scoring MMA. Keep your hands up, and we’ll see you next time.