Kamaru Usman is making a significant move up to the middleweight division to face Dricus Du Plessis. This highly anticipated bout is scheduled for July 18 and will headline UFC Oklahoma City. Usman's decision to move up in weight class has generated a lot of buzz, as he looks to challenge himself against a top contender in a new division. This fight is a clash of styles and a true test for Usman at 185 pounds.
Sources (14)
We summarise the day's news in our own words. Full credit to the outlets below for the original reporting, click through to read their work.
- New UFC champ Gaethje 'planning' to fight again (ESPN MMA)
- Usman moving up to face Du Plessis on July 18 (ESPN MMA)
- Ilia Topuria's glaring mistake cost him the fight at UFC Freedom 250, claims Justin Gaethje (MMA Weekly)
- Kape topples Horiguchi for fourth straight KO (ESPN MMA)
- Ilia Topuria's glaring mistake cost him the fight at UFC Freedom 250, claims Justin Gaethje (Yahoo Sports)
- Justin Gaethje shuts down Ilia Topuria immediate rematch: ‘He quit twice’ (Yahoo Sports)
- Dricus Du Plessis Meets Kamaru Usman In UFC Oklahoma City Main Event As Usman Jumps To Middleweight (MiddleEasy)
- Dana White mocks Tom Aspinall’s ‘insane’ decision to sign with Eddie Hearn (Bloody Elbow)
- Dana White: 'Alex Pereira is not a whiner,' backs outrage at Herb Dean (Yahoo Sports)
- Justin Gaethje shuts down Ilia Topuria immediate rematch: ‘He quit twice’ (MMA Mania)
- Did Ronda Rousey celebrate too soon? Dana White teases ‘huge’ UFC Freedom 250 global ratings release (Bloody Elbow)
- Dana White explains why UFC has delayed using Trevor Wittman’s new fighter gloves: “It’s impossible” (BJPENN.com)
- Kyoji Horiguchi releases statement following UFC Vegas 119 knockout loss, ‘I’m truly sorry’ (Yahoo Sports)
- Kyoji Horiguchi releases statement following UFC Vegas 119 knockout loss – ‘I’m truly sorry’ (MMA Mania)
Split from that day's roundup, so the sources listed are the full set behind the whole edition rather than this story alone.
This story ran in the June 22, 2026 edition of the daily show.