Quick Facts
- The official weigh-in for UFC Oklahoma City (UFC Fight Night 281) took place this Friday.
- Kamaru Usman (186 lbs) and Dricus Du Plessis (185.5 lbs) made weight for the middleweight main event.
- Two fighters missed weight: Chase Hooper and Ezra Elliott, each by 1.5 pounds, resulting in a 20 percent purse fine.
- The card airs Saturday, July 18, on Paramount+: prelims at 5 p.m. ET, main card at 8 p.m. ET.
The UFC Oklahoma City card is now official. After a UFC 329 card in Las Vegas that disappointed on sporting merit, the organization is hoping to get back on track with a main event clash between two former champions: ex-welterweight king Kamaru Usman against former middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis. Both men stepped on the scale this Friday, the day before the event.
Usman and Du Plessis Make Weight for the Main Event
Kamaru Usman weighed in at exactly 186 pounds, while Dricus Du Plessis stopped at 185.5 pounds: both men comfortably made the middleweight limit for this five-round fight. Usman (21 wins, 4 losses), 39, enters this main event after outpointing Joaquin Buckley last year, a decision win that ended a three-fight losing streak. The Nigerian had lost his welterweight title to Leon Edwards before failing to reclaim it, then being stopped by Khamzat Chimaev. This time, he is taking one more shot at a title, but in a new division.
On the other side, Dricus Du Plessis (23 wins, 3 losses), 32, is also coming off a loss to Khamzat Chimaev, who took his middleweight title. The South African carries a 9-1 record in the UFC, highlighted by notable wins over Sean Strickland, Israel Adesanya, and Robert Whittaker, which have placed him among the best in his division.
Two Fighters Miss Weight on the Card
Elsewhere on the card, two fighters missed weight: lightweight Chase Hooper, who came in at 157.5 pounds (1.5 pounds over the limit), and featherweight Ezra Elliott, in the same situation. Both will be fined 20 percent of their purse, paid to their respective opponents under the organization’s usual rules.
Elsewhere on the card, notable successful weigh-ins include Jared Cannonier (185 lbs) against Christian Leroy Duncan (185.5 lbs), Fatima Kline (115.5 lbs) against Tabatha Ricci (116 lbs) in the strawweight division, and Dione Barbosa (125 lbs) against Anna Melisano (126 lbs).
The Rest of the Confirmed Weigh-Ins
Beyond the main event and the bantamweight/featherweight bouts already mentioned, several other matchups were confirmed at this official weigh-in: Tommy McMillen (145 lbs) against Alberto Montes (146 lbs), Austin Bashi (145 lbs) against Jose Delgado (146 lbs), Seok Hyeon Ko (169 lbs) against Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani (171 lbs), and Felipe Franco (205 lbs) against Levi Rodrigues (206 lbs) in the light heavyweight division. At heavyweight, R.J. Harris (262.5 lbs) will face Alvin Hines (264 lbs), while Alden Coria and Stewart Nicoll both weighed in dead on at 126 pounds for their bantamweight bout.
This main event carries particular stakes for Kamaru Usman: at 39, the former welterweight champion is facing his first major test in his new middleweight division, hoping to extend a career already marked by a long reign at 170 pounds. A win would immediately put his name back in title contention in a division currently dominated by Khamzat Chimaev, a division where Dricus Du Plessis, for his part, is looking to erase his own loss to that same Chimaev. Find our full preview of this fight ahead of the weigh-in.
How to Watch
UFC Oklahoma City (UFC Fight Night 281) takes place Saturday, July 18, streaming in full on Paramount+. Prelims start at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT, followed by the main card at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. The winner of Usman vs. Du Plessis should move closer to a middleweight title opportunity, a division currently dominated by Khamzat Chimaev.
With weight now confirmed for the entire card, nothing stands in the way of the event going ahead as scheduled. It remains to be seen whether Kamaru Usman can carry his renewed momentum against a Dricus Du Plessis still regarded as one of the best middleweights in the world despite his recent loss.
FAQ
Who is fighting in the UFC Oklahoma City main event?
Kamaru Usman faces Dricus Du Plessis in a five-round middleweight fight, with both men making weight this Friday (186 lbs and 185.5 lbs).
Did any fighters miss weight?
Yes, Chase Hooper and Ezra Elliott each missed the limit by 1.5 pounds and will be fined 20 percent of their purse.
Where and when can I watch UFC Oklahoma City?
The event takes place Saturday, July 18, streaming on Paramount+, with prelims at 5 p.m. ET and the main card at 8 p.m. ET.
Want to know how the Americans are doing? Check our American fighters in the UFC page, updated after every event, along with the full UFC rankings.
