Former UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has expressed his desire to face fellow ex-champion Kamaru Usman, who is reportedly considering a move back to the 185-pound division. However, du Plessis suggests that the much-anticipated bout is unlikely to happen, claiming Usman is not interested in stepping into the octagon with “Stillknocks.”
Du Plessis recently lost his middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 last year and has yet to make his return to competition. The South African fighter has been focusing on enhancing his ground game and has vowed a strong comeback.
In a recent interview, du Plessis affirmed his readiness to take on any opponent to secure another shot at reclaiming the title he lost. He specifically mentioned his willingness to fight the legendary Kamaru Usman, but stated that “The Nigerian Nightmare” has shown no interest.
“I never received an official offer to fight Kamaru Usman,” du Plessis clarified. “Had that offer come through, I would have certainly accepted the fight. He and his team likely have their reasons; perhaps they don’t favor my fighting style or the matchup itself. But from my perspective, having just lost the belt, I’m not a former champion from years ago; this fight would make considerable sense for someone pursuing a title shot.”
Kamaru Usman’s Perspective on the Proposed Fight
Kamaru Usman, a former welterweight champion, recently confirmed that he was indeed offered a fight against Dricus du Plessis. However, Usman, who is 38 and in the later stages of his career, emphasized his preference for “meaningful” fights that directly contribute to his goal of securing another title opportunity.
Usman stated, “Dricus du Plessis was presented as an option… The crucial aspect for me right now is that a fight has to be meaningful. I’m not just here to take any fight; it needs to align with my path towards the title I aspire to.”
Usman had previously set his sights on challenging the 170-pound champion Islam Makhachev, with aspirations to dethrone the Russian before potentially moving up to middleweight for a rematch against Khamzat Chimaev. However, these plans for Usman to become a two-division UFC champion appear to be currently stalled, as Makhachev is expected to face either Michael Morales or Ian Machado Garry next, and Chimaev is likely to defend his middleweight title against Sean Strickland or Nassourdine Imavov.
