Can Kamaru Usman put out the Dricus du Plessis fire?

A high-kick from out of nowhere shattered his reign, and then Khamzat Chimaev pushed him to the limit when he stepped in on short notice. At 37, Kamaru Usman refuses to fade away quietly and is now storming the middleweight mountain. Facing the chaotic, ultra-physical style of Dricus du Plessis, the Nigerian is playing his final ace for glory.

🥊 Quick Stats

Name: Kamaru Usman
Record: 20-4-0
Signature trait: Worn-out knees, but wrestling that can move mountains.

The High-Five Block

Last 5 results:

• ✅ Joaquin Buckley — Unanimous decision UFC Fight Night
• ❌ Khamzat Chimaev — Majority decision UFC 294
• ❌ Leon Edwards — Majority decision UFC 286
• ❌ Leon Edwards — KO/TKO (R5) UFC 278
• ✅ Colby Covington — Unanimous decision UFC 268

The Origin Story

Born in Auchi, Nigeria, Kamaru arrived in the U.S. as a kid with no roadmap, but with an insane work ethic. No red carpet for him, just the sweat of NCAA Division II wrestling mats. That’s where he earned a national title and forged his trademark: a suffocating, ultra-physical style designed to break his opponents mentally. Usman isn't here to put on a show with backflips; he's here to pin you against the cage, take your breath away, and make you regret signing the contract.

The Nightmare Dictatorship

In the UFC, Usman was long the "boogeyman" everyone avoided. Too strong, too risky, not bankable enough. So he took the welterweight belt by force and locked it down for three years. His two wars against Colby Covington became legendary, especially the one where he broke his jaw. His monumental KO of Jorge Masvidal proved his boxing was no longer a bluff. For 15 fights straight, the Nigerian reigned as an absolute tyrant, cleaning out his division before Leon Edwards' lightning strike hit his neck.

Useless Trivia

• The Nightmare's blessing: Kamaru had to personally call Christian Okoye, the former Nigerian NFL legend, to get permission to use his iconic "Nigerian Nightmare" nickname.
• Champion genetics: His brother, Mohammed Usman, competes in the UFC heavyweight division and also won The Ultimate Fighter tournament. Fighting is a family business.
• A hair's breadth from Anderson Silva: Before his KO loss to Edwards, Usman was on a 15-fight win streak in the UFC. He fell just one fight short of matching the legendary "Spider's" all-time record.

The MMX Take

This fight against Dricus du Plessis is the perfect trap, but also a golden opportunity. Du Plessis is a bull who fights like a guy in a bar brawl, but his physical strength is legit. Still, Usman’s data shows he has the tools to put out the fire. The Nigerian absorbs very little (only 2.7 strikes per minute) thanks to excellent stand-up defense (55.2%).

The key lies in his elite 89.8% takedown defense. If Usman neutralizes the South African's wrestling, the fight stays on the feet. With his laser-accurate piston jab (51.9% accuracy) and a volume of 4.2 strikes per minute, Usman can frustrate Du Plessis and drag him into a 5-round trench war, where the Nigerian's legendary cardio makes the difference. It’s a risky pick given the natural size difference at middleweight, but Usman's tactical experience should lead him to a unanimous decision win.

A former king ready to prove his decline was greatly exaggerated. Do you think he'll win his next fight? Come place your bets and challenge your buddies on MMX.

📋 On the same card: Check out all the profiles for UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman