UFC returns to Oklahoma City
UFC returns to Oklahoma City
The Octagon returns to Oklahoma City for the first time in over nine years, with a 12-fight card at Paycom Center. The event features emerging prospects and a main event between two former champions looking to establish their positions in the middleweight division.
The main card is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET, while the preliminary card starts at 5 p.m. ET. Both portions of the event will be available on Paramount+.
Main Event: Du Plessis vs. Usman
In the main event, former middleweight titleholder Dricus Du Plessis will face former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. This bout is significant for both fighters as they aim to solidify their standing in the 185-pound ranks.
Du Plessis is coming off his first loss in nearly seven years, which resulted in him losing his middleweight title and ending his unbeaten run in the UFC. This fight presents an opportunity for him to address questions about his performance following that defeat.
Usman’s appearance marks his first in 13 months and his full debut at middleweight. He previously made a short-notice appearance in the division at UFC 294, where he challenged Khamzat Chimaev. Usman’s previous win over Joaquin Buckley in Atlanta last June showcased his wrestling skills.
The shifting landscape at the top of the middleweight division adds importance to this matchup. Du Plessis has two wins against current titleholder Sean Strickland, and Usman also defeated Strickland during his welterweight career. With the next title defense not yet announced, either fighter could position themselves as a leading contender with a strong performance.
Additional Main Card Bouts
The co-main event also takes place in the middleweight division, featuring Jared Cannonier against Christian Leroy Duncan. Cannonier, a consistent presence in the rankings and a former title challenger, has been ranked since his divisional debut at UFC 230. He has a record of 5-1 in his initial fights in the division, leading to a championship opportunity.
Cannonier has split his last six fights, including a knockout win over Gregory Rodrigues and a victory against current champion Sean Strickland. Duncan, who entered the promotion with an undefeated record, has secured three wins, including consecutive spinning attack finishes, and extended his winning streak to four with a unanimous decision win over Roman Dolidze in March.
In the lightweight division, Chase Hooper will compete against Mitch Ramirez. Both fighters started their journey to the Octagon through Dana White’s Contender Series. Hooper moved to lightweight in the spring of 2023. However, he has experienced losses in his last two outings.
Ramirez, who faced Carlos Prates on the Contender Series in 2023, earned a spot in the UFC after a first-round stoppage win in a subsequent fight. He has lost his first two Octagon appearances and seeks to end his skid while Hooper looks to avoid another defeat. Both fighters have high finishing rates, with Hooper having finishes in 12 of his 16 career wins and Ramirez boasting an 87.5-percent finishing rate.
The main card opener features Tommy McMillen against Alberto Montes in a featherweight contest. McMillen, from the Class of ’25 of the Contender Series, maintained his undefeated record with a first-round stoppage win over Manolo Zecchini in his UFC debut in April, earning a Performance of the Night bonus. Montes, who was part of the Season 8 grad class, made his debut in March, securing a second-round technical submission win over TUF 29 winner Ricky Turcios, bringing his overall record to 10-1.
Preliminary Card Highlights
The preliminary card includes several matchups across different weight classes. In a women’s strawweight bout, Tabatha Ricci will face Fatima Kline. Other preliminary fights feature Austin Bashi against Jose Miguel Delgado, Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani against SeokHyeon Ko, and Levi Rodrigues against Felipe Franco.
Additional preliminary matchups include Alden Coria vs. Stewart Nicoll, RJ Harris vs. Alvin Hines, and Anna Melisano vs. Dione Barbosa. MMA expert Daniel Vithlani has backed Levi Rodrigues over Felipe Franco in their light heavyweight bout on the preliminary card.
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Source: ufc.com
