OKLAHOMA CITY — Dricus Du Plessis defeated Kamaru Usman by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Fight Night 281. The judges' scorecards for the fight were 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46 in favor of Dricus Plessis.

The bout occurred at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, marking the first UFC event held in the city since 2017. A crowd of 17,173 people attended the event to watch the middleweight contest.

Plessis entered the matchup ranked No. 2 in the middleweight division. The 32-year-old fighter improved his professional record to 24-3 with the victory.

Statistical data showed he landed 139 total strikes and 136 significant strikes during the five-round fight. He did not concede any successful takedowns to his opponent throughout the duration of the bout.

Usman landed 99 total strikes and 92 significant strikes. The 39-year-old fighter saw his professional record drop to 21-5 following the loss.

Dana White noted that Usman absorbed 132 significant strikes, including 102 head strikes. White commented on the durability of the former champion after observing the physical toll of the fight.

"I’m back in the winner’s circle. Let’s get my belt back," he said. He referenced his previous loss of the middleweight championship to Khamzat Chimaev in August 2025.

He stated, "I said a win wouldn’t give me a title shot, but damn, a performance like that would get me a title shot." He expressed confidence that his display would warrant another opportunity at the championship.

He has career wins over Usman, Sean Strickland twice, Israel Adesanya, and Robert Whittaker. His resume includes victories over several notable contenders in the division.

Usman acknowledged the difficulty of the defeat in his post-fight remarks. "It’s tough. It’s hard to be on this side of it. And I’m not used to being on this side, so it’s a tough one," Usman said.

He reflected on his recent performance history. "It’s very rarely I have an off night in here, and everyone gets it once in awhile, and I guess this one was mine," he said.

Usman mentioned a specific incident during the early stages of the fight. "I took kind of a thumb-punch in the eye early on, and that kind of blurred the vision a bit. But no excuses. It is what it is," he said.

Usman last fought in June 2025, defeating Joaquin Buckley. The loss to Plessis marked his fourth defeat in his last five fights.

He offered praise for his opponent despite the outcome. "That man fought like somebody on the way up, not on the way out. And I will respect that forever. Always put respect on that man’s name because he deserves it," he said.

White discussed the future of the 39-year-old fighter. "Yeah, I don’t know. Obviously, a great fight."

Fighting a much bigger guy, and he’s got a great chin. He’s still got it. It’s not like, ‘Oh, Usman’s done and he should retire.’ He had a great fight tonight. So yeah, I don’t know. He’s going to go home, rest, heal up, and figure out what’s next," White said."

Both fighters received a $100,000 Fight of the Night bonus for their participation in the main event. The financial recognition showed the competitive nature of the five-round decision.

The result positions Plessis as a top contender in the middleweight division following his championship loss in 2025. His victory over a former champion with a significant striking advantage demonstrates his continued relevance in title conversations.

Usman faces questions about his trajectory after losing four of his last five bouts. The age difference between the 32-year-old Plessis and the 39-year-old Usman factors into assessments of their respective careers moving forward.