PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dricus Du Plessis of South Africa prepares to fight Israel Adesanya of Nigeria in the Middleweight championship fight during UFC 305 at RAC Arena on August 18, 2024 in Perth, Australia.

Du Plessis to return vs. Usman at UFC Oklahoma City

Paul Kane / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Dricus Du Plessis will fight for the first time since losing the middleweight championship at UFC Oklahoma City against Kamaru Usman on July 18.

The bout will headline the card and take place at middleweight, meaning former welterweight champion Usman will jump up a weight class.

Du Plessis last appeared at UFC 319 in August, losing an embarrassing one-sided decision to Khamzat Chimaev. The South African had his grappling exposed in that one, and the result cut his title reign off at two successful defenses.

Usman has been similarly inactive over the past year, sitting out since earning a dominant decision win over Joaquin Buckley last June at a Fight Night show in Atlanta.

The 39-year-old lobbied for a welterweight title shot after defeating Buckley, looking to polish off his resume before retirement. Usman defended the welterweight belt five times between 2019 and 2021 before losing three straight.

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