UFC Fight Night 281 is scheduled for July 18 in Oklahoma City, with former champions Dricus du Plessis and Kamaru Usman headlining the card. UFC officials announce that du Plessis, a former UFC middleweight champion (23-3), will face Usman, a former UFC welterweight champion (21-4), in a middleweight bout at the Paycom Center. Multiple outlets describe the matchup as a notable clash of two past titleholders and a return for du Plessis to the octagon.
Du Plessis is reported to be fighting for the first time since losing the middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev last August. Usman is also portrayed as returning to the middleweight division for the fight, following his earlier calling for the matchup. One report adds that du Plessis opens as a substantial betting favorite over Usman, reflecting expectations for the main event. The overall event is presented as a UFC Oklahoma City offering and a follow-up to Conor McGregor’s recent return, with the du Plessis–Usman bout serving as the central attraction.
