Kamaru Usman's 13-Month Layoff Is OVER, And Dricus du Plessis Is A VERY Bad Welcome Back Party

Yo, fight fans, did you just hear what dropped? Seriously, the UFC just announced a headliner for July 18 that's gonna send shockwaves through the middleweight division! We're talking Dricus du Plessis, our recently dethroned 185-pound champ, making his long-awaited return. And who's stepping up to greet him? None other than the former pound-for-pound king, Kamaru Usman. This ain't just another fight, fam, it's a pivotal middleweight showdown, all going down in Oklahoma City at Paycom Center. You know what that means: fireworks!

The Nigerian Nightmare Is BACK, Baby!

Let's talk Kamaru Usman for a minute. This dude's a legend, a former welterweight champ who held that 170-pound belt down, defending it four times before finally dropping it in 2022. But get this, he's been out for 13 whole months! His last time in the Octagon was a unanimous decision win over Joaquin Buckley, which, no lie, snapped a three-fight losing streak. Now, this 39-year-old phenom, ranked No. 9 at welterweight, is stepping back into the middleweight division for only his second time. Remember his first middleweight bout? A tough majority decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev back at UFC 294 in 2023, on late notice. Usman's got a serious legacy, winning his first 15 UFC walks after his 2015 debut, just one shy of the promotional record. What's he got left after all that time off and at 39 years old? We're about to find out. Trade on Every Game with Kalshi

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2>Dricus du Plessis, Meet Your Redemption Arc On the flip side, we've got Dricus du Plessis, and you know he's got something huge to prove. This 32-year-old South African is finally making his return after losing his 185-pound title last August at UFC 319. Talk about a rough night, right? The source says it was a one-sided performance, primarily dominated by Chimaev's wrestling. Ouch. That loss was his first since 2018, ending an absolutely insane 11-fight win streak. Think about that! He originally snatched that 185-pound title from Sean Strickland in 2024 with a split-decision win, so he knows exactly what it takes. As the No. 2-ranked middleweight, you know he's not just hungry, he's starving to get that belt back. This fight with Usman? It's his big statement that he's still a top dog in this division, and he's not going anywhere but up. So, seriously, mark your calendars for July 18. This pivotal middleweight showdown, officially announced during Saturday's UFC Fight Night broadcast in Las Vegas, is set to explode! Usman's fighting to prove he's still elite, and du Plessis is looking to make a massive statement and bounce back to the top. The stakes are absolutely through the roof for both of these incredible fighters. Plus, we've got Jared Cannonier against a surging Christian Leroy Duncan and a key women's strawweight bout featuring Fatima Kline and late replacement Tabatha Ricci on the undercard. Seattle On Tap will be dialed in for every single second. You absolutely do not want to miss it!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.