Du Plessis vs Usman UFC OKC Preview: Stats Clash
Oklahoma City's Paycom Center hosts a middleweight monster mash on July 18, when Dricus Du Plessis defends his throne against Kamaru Usman, the Nigerian Nightmare dropping a division to reclaim glory. DDP rides a rollercoaster of title wins, but Usman's recent Buckley bounce-back whispers danger. With odds pegging the champ at -340, stats reveal a striker's frenzy versus a control artist's grip—buckle up for five rounds of calculated chaos.
Du Plessis vs. Usman: Volume vs. Vice Grip
Dricus Du Plessis unleashes 6.3 significant strikes per minute with 49% accuracy across 10 UFC bouts, a barrage that dismantled Whittaker via TKO and submitted Adesanya. Yet his 12% control time and mere 0.2 takedowns per minute scream vulnerability against wrestlers.
Enter Kamaru Usman, whose 43% control dominance over 19 fights smothers foes, even landing 0.2 takedowns per minute at 44% clip. Fresh off a decision over Buckley after skid to Khamzat and double Edwards heartbreak, the ex-champ's 52% striking accuracy could turn this into a chess match.
Du Plessis' last five mix elite wins with a Khamzat decision loss; Usman's form swings from Colby triumph to recent woes. Expect DDP's output to test Usman's vaunted defense, where opponents connect at 55%.
The -340 favorite thrives in stand-up wars, but Usman's grappling edge at +285 odds might drag this to the mat for a veteran masterclass.
Holland vs. Smith: Vet Fire vs. Prospect Steamroller
Kevin Holland, with 30 UFC scraps, peppers 6.2 sig strikes per minute at 50% accuracy, backing 13 submission tries and recent sub over Luque. But his 13% control and 37% takedown rate leave openings in a 37-year-old frame coming off mixed last five.
Jacobe Smith? Tiny four-fight sample, but he converts 92% of takedowns (0.5 per minute) and boasts 58% control time, while drilling 6.9 strikes per minute at 68%—head shots alone hit 64%. Undefeated in five straight TKOs and subs, this kid's a grappling sniper.
Holland's trailblazing chaos meets Smith's terminator takedowns; opponents land just 48% sigs on him. If Smith stuffs stand-up and grinds, Holland's volume might vanish in control hell.
Cannonier vs. Duncan: KO Kings Collide
Jared Cannonier cranks 5.0 sig strikes per minute at 50% accuracy over 20 fights, head strikes landing 41% en route to Rodrigues TKO but recent Page loss. Minimal grappling (0.0 takedowns per minute, 11% control) means he lives by power punches.
Christian Leroy Duncan mirrors menace with 6.2 strikes per minute at 58% clip in nine bouts, four straight wins including TKOs over Anders and Tulio. His 22% control is opportunistic, but opponents connect at 53%—vulnerable to Cannonnier's bombs.
Both powerhouses swing hard; Cannonier's 56% defense against strikes faces Duncan's rising form post-Rodrigues hiccup. This could end early or devolve into a firefight.
Tavares vs. Barriault: Striking Surge Battle
Brad Tavares grinds 28 UFC fights at 4.4 sig strikes per minute (44% accuracy), but last five scream slump: three losses, including TKOs to Bryczek and Rodrigues. Sparse takedowns (0.1 per minute) keep it standing, where foes land 55%.
Marc-André Barriault blitzes 7.1 strikes per minute (47% accuracy) across 17 bouts, outpacing Tavares despite recent double decisions losses. His 49% striking defense absorbed Pyfer and Stoltzfus bombs before Silva TKO win.
Barriault's volume could overwhelm Tavares' resilience in this vet-vs-pressure cooker. Both middling grapplers, so pure pocket wars ahead.
Get the full per-round breakdowns
Every bout on UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman comes with round-by-round stats, model win probabilities, betting odds and line movement. The preview is the surface — the numbers underneath are where the edge lives.