Kamaru Usman Eyes Immediate Title Shot After UFC Oklahoma City Clash
Kamaru Usman has laid out a clear championship ultimatum ahead of his middleweight return this weekend. Speaking at media day for UFC Oklahoma City, the former welterweight kingpin stated that a victory over Dricus Du Plessis on Saturday night should earn him an immediate title shot, regardless of weight class.
“Sean Strickland. I mean, that makes sense. That’s pretty easy. It’s either Sean Strickland or Islam [Makhachev], if Islam is still the champion, which I assume he will be,” Usman said, via MMA Fighting. The statement underlines the 39-year-old’s confidence that he remains one victory away from a championship opportunity at either 185 or 170 pounds.
Usman faces Du Plessis in the main event of UFC Fight Night 281, which takes place at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City and streams on Paramount+. The bout pits two former champions against one another, with Du Plessis making his first appearance since losing the middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in August 2025. Usman, meanwhile, returns to the weight class where he fought Chimaev on short notice at UFC 294 in October 2023, dropping a close majority decision.
The “Moneyweight” Approach to Fighting
Usman has not fought at middleweight since that Chimaev bout, but he has never been one to shy away from a challenge. The Nigerian Nightmare explained that his decision to move back up was fueled by a mindset he calls being a “moneyweight” fighter—someone willing to compete at any division that offers the biggest opportunities.
“For me, I’ve always said this. I’m a ‘moneyweight’ fighter. So it’s not about ‘85 or ‘70. I can hit both,” Usman told UFC.com. “I’m not the biggest at both, and I’m not necessarily the smallest at both. I might be the smallest at ‘85, but who knows? But for me, it doesn’t matter. I feel that I have the skills to be able to compete at either one. So if it makes sense, I might be there.”
Usman picked up his first win in nearly four years 13 months ago with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta. Following that performance, he called for a shot at Makhachev and the welterweight title, but the UFC opted to give the next title opportunity to rising star Machado Garry, who faces Makhachev in the main event of UFC 330 on August 15 in Philadelphia. That decision forced Usman to recalibrate his path.
“I obviously wanted the Islam fight. We talked about that and I thought that was what was going to be next, but unfortunately, in these things like this, the company kind of has a say – a big say – in this and they felt this was an opportunity,” Usman said. “This one just made sense at this time.”
Why This Fight Matters for the Division
Saturday’s main event carries major implications for the middleweight and welterweight hierarchies. Du Plessis, the former champion, is looking to re-establish himself after his title loss to Chimaev. For Usman, a win would vault him past a crowded field of contenders in both divisions.
Usman acknowledged that the road to a title at middleweight is no easier than at welterweight. “I wouldn’t say easier. I think it just fit,” he said. “With respect to some of these guys right now at the top. I mean, guys like Jared Cannonier, guys like Nassourdine Imavov, Caio Borralho, all these guys, Robocop. All of these guys are extremely tough, just like Prates and Morales, and all these guys [at 170]. Hey, it is what it is.”
The timing works in Usman’s favor on several fronts. Middleweight champion Sean Strickland does not currently have his next fight booked, though he is rumored to be facing Chimaev in a rematch later this year. Should Strickland’s dance card remain open, a fight against the legendary Usman—who already holds a unanimous decision win over Strickland from a 2017 welterweight bout—would be a major pay-per-view draw.
Father Time and Title Aspirations
Usman, now 39, is acutely aware that his window as an elite fighter is narrowing. He made no secret of his desire to maximize the opportunities remaining in his career. “I’m not necessarily here just to fight. At the end of the day, I understand that Father Time waits for no one, and I can’t do this forever,” he said. “So I want the biggest and the best opportunity for myself and my team to be able to go out there and showcase everything that we’ve put into this. This happened to be the opportunity, so we took it.”
That urgency is reflected in his willingness to move up in weight and take on a former champion on short notice in terms of preparation. Usman weighed in successfully on Friday, and the final faceoff between the two fighters was notably feisty, signaling the intensity expected for Saturday’s headliner.
Broader Implications: The Future of the UFC’s Weight Classes
Usman’s dual-title ambition highlights a growing trend in the UFC: fighters increasingly viewing weight classes as flexible rather than fixed. The success of fighters like Conor McGregor, who became a simultaneous two-division champion, and current champions like Islam Makhachev, who also competes at lightweight, has normalized the concept of moving up and down to chase legacy and money.
If Usman defeats Du Plessis, the UFC will face a compelling dilemma. Do they grant him a shot at Strickland at middleweight, potentially leapfrogging contenders like Caio Borralho and Nassourdine Imavov? Or do they send him back down to welterweight for a rematch with Makhachev, a fight that was teased but never materialized?
Usman’s own preference appears to lean toward Strickland, given the history and the clearer path. “That makes sense. That’s pretty easy,” he said. But he did not rule out the Makhachev fight, acknowledging that if the lightweight champion remains at 170, that could also be an option.
For now, all eyes are on Oklahoma City. The 185-pound clash between the two former champions is seen by many as a potential Fight of the Night, with both men known for their durability and offensive pressure. Usman’s resume includes wins over Strickland, Colby Covington (twice), Gilbert Burns, and Leon Edwards. A victory over Du Plessis—a recent champion himself—would add another top-tier scalp to his collection and silence critics who question whether the Nigerian Nightmare can reclaim his former glory.
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