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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the UFC Fight Night say to du Plessis? "You're in for a punch of data".

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UFC Fight Night: du Plessis vs. Usman
The poster for UFC Fight Night: du Plessis vs. Usman
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateJuly 18, 2026 (2026-07-18)
VenuePaycom Center
CityOklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Attendance17,173[1]
Total gate$3,187,383[1]
Event chronology
UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2 UFC Fight Night: du Plessis vs. Usman UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Guskov

UFC Fight Night: du Plessis vs. Usman (also known as UFC Fight Night 281) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on July 18, 2026, at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States.[2]

Background

[edit]

This event marked the promotion's third visit to Oklahoma City and first since UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee in June 2017.[2]

A middleweight bout between former UFC Middleweight Champion (also former KSW Welterweight Champion) Dricus du Plessis and former UFC Welterweight Champion (also The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians welterweight winner) Kamaru Usman headlined the event.[3]

A women's strawweight bout between Amanda Ribas and Fatima Kline was scheduled for the event.[4] However, Ribas withdrew due to dizziness and was replaced by Tabatha Ricci.[5]

Brad Tavares was expected to face Marc-André Barriault in a middleweight bout.[6] However, Tavares pulled out due to undisclosed reasons, so the bout was cancelled.[7]

Veronica Hardy and Dione Barbosa were expected to meet in a women's flyweight bout at the preliminary card.[8] However, Hardy pulled out in early July after suffering a cut during training and was replaced by promotional newcomer Anna Melisano.[9]

A bantamweight bout between former UFC Bantamweight Championship challenger Marlon Vera and Charles Jourdain was reportedly scheduled to take place as the co-main event.[10] However, the bout was moved to UFC 331 for unknown reasons.[11]

A heavyweight bout between Alvin Hines and Allen Frye Jr. was originally booked for the event.[12] However, Frye Jr. pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by promotional newcomer RJ Harris.[13]

In addition, a welterweight bout between Kevin Holland and undefeated prospect Jacobe Smith was scheduled for the event.[14] However, Holland had to withdraw due to an undisclosed injury and the pairing was cancelled.[15][16]

At the weigh-ins, two fighters missed weight:[17]

  • Chase Hooper weighed in at 157.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the lightweight non-title fight limit.
  • Promotional newcomer Ezra Elliott weighed in at 147.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit.

Hooper and Elliott's bouts proceeded at catchweight. Both fighters were fined a percentage of their individual purses which went to their opponents Mitch Ramirez (20 percent) and fellow promotional newcomer Damien Anderson (undisclosed), respectively.[17]

Results

[edit]
Main card (Paramount+)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Middleweight Dricus du Plessis def. Kamaru Usman Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 49–46, 49–46) 5 5:00
Middleweight Christian Leroy Duncan def. Jared Cannonier Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) 3 5:00
Catchweight (157.5 lb) Chase Hooper def. Mitch Ramirez Submission (rear-naked choke) 1 2:15
Women's Strawweight Fatima Kline def. Tabatha Ricci Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Featherweight Tommy McMillen def. Alberto Montes TKO (punches) 3 3:29
Preliminary card (Paramount+)
Featherweight Jose Miguel Delgado def. Austin Bashi Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Welterweight Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani def. Ko Seok-hyeon Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Light Heavyweight Felipe Franco def. Levi Rodrigues Jr. TKO (punches) 2 1:40
Catchweight (147.5 lb) Ezra Elliott def. Damien Anderson Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Flyweight Alden Coria def. Stewart Nicoll Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) 3 5:00
Heavyweight RJ Harris def. Alvin Hines TKO (punches) 1 1:40
Women's Flyweight Dione Barbosa def. Anna Melisano Submission (rear-naked choke) 1 4:04

[18]

Bonus awards

[edit]

The following fighters received $100,000 bonuses. The other finishes received $25,000 additional bonuses, with the exception of Chase Hooper, as he missed weight for his bout.[19]

  • Fight of the Night: Dricus du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman
  • Performance of the Night: Tommy McMillen and Felipe Franco

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 Mike Bohn (2026-07-19). "UFC Fight Night 281 post-event facts: Nate Diaz record falls after nearly 15 years". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  2. 1 2 Jonathan Greco (2026-04-21). "Report: UFC event coming to Oklahoma for first time in nearly a decade". koco.com. Retrieved 2026-04-22.
  3. ↑ Roberto Villa (2026-05-20). "UFC returns to Oklahoma with Usman vs Du Plessis headlining July 18 card". fightbookmma.com. Retrieved 2026-05-25.
  4. ↑ Nolan King (2026-04-21). "UFC books Fatima Kline vs. Amanda Ribas". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  5. ↑ Marcel Dorff (2026-06-17). "Fatima Kline gets new opponent for UFC Oklahoma City". heavy.com. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  6. ↑ Alexander Behunin (2026-04-30). "Fight news: Brad Tavares collides with Marc-Andre Barriault in Oklahoma City for UFC history". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
  7. ↑ Oscar Nascimento (2026-07-03). "Brad Tavares withdraws from UFC OKC bout with Marc-André Barriault". agentmma.com. Retrieved 2026-07-09.
  8. ↑ Drew Beaupre (2026-04-20). "UFC reportedly returning to city for UFC Fight Night after nearly 10-year wait". si.com. Retrieved 2026-04-21.
  9. ↑ Guilherme Cruz (2026-07-06). "Michael Bisping's No. 1 TUF 34 pick steps in to save fight at UFC Oklahoma City". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  10. ↑ Drew Beaupre (2026-06-23). "UFC Oklahoma City reportedly gets banger co-main fight after main event announcement". si.com. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  11. ↑ Alexander Behunin (2026-07-06). "Marlon Vera vs. Charles Jourdain booked for UFC 331 date". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  12. ↑ Marcel Dorff (2026-05-14). "Chase Hooper Takes on Mitch Ramirez at UFC Oklahoma City". heavy.com. Retrieved 2026-05-15.
  13. ↑ Jonathan Ryan (2026-07-09). "Goozie Hines' return to the Octagon is more than just a fight". grandrapidsmn.com. Retrieved 2026-07-09.
  14. ↑ Alexander Behunin (2026-05-21). "Fight news: Kevin Holland vs. Jacobe Smith booked for UFC Oklahoma City on July 18". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
  15. ↑ Damon Martin (2026-07-10). "Kevin Holland out of UFC Oklahoma City fight against Jacobe Smith". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
  16. ↑ Staff (2026-07-10). "Updates to UFC Oklahoma City". ufc.com. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
  17. 1 2 Jed Meshew (2026-07-18). "UFC Oklahoma City weigh-in results: Chase Hooper, another fighter miss weight". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2026-07-18.
  18. ↑ "UFC Fight Night: du Plessis vs. Usman". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  19. ↑ Adam Martin (2026-07-18). "UFC Oklahoma City bonuses revealed following event". heavy.com. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
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