Kamaru Usman had experienced Dricus du Plessis’ punching power years before their upcoming middleweight main event, recalling a sparring session that left an impression on him. The former UFC welterweight champion discussed du Plessis’ striking during a 2024 episode of the “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo.
“He’s not the cleanest, but there is, there’s gotta be power, I remember,” Usman said. “It’s been a while, it’s been a few years but I sparred him way back in the day.” The comment came as Usman and Cejudo assessed du Plessis’ strengths during his middleweight title reign.
Kamaru Usman Recalls Sparring Dricus du Plessis: “I Knew He Hit Hard”
Usman said he had already identified the South African’s force during that gym work. “I always remembered, I knew he hit hard, he swings hard, but now I feel like he’s confident in that power,” Usman added. His assessment fits du Plessis’ UFC record, which includes stoppage wins over Robert Whittaker, Derek Brunson and Darren Till, plus a fourth-round submission of Israel Adesanya.
Du Plessis’ striking has often drawn attention because of its unusual rhythm and wide attacks. But his results at middleweight show that opponents can be forced into difficult exchanges when he closes distance, varies his entries and keeps a high pace. He compiled a 9-0 UFC start before losing a five-round unanimous decision to Khamzat Chimaev in August 2025.
The old sparring memory adds a different layer to Usman’s preparation for July 18, when he faces du Plessis at 185 pounds in the UFC Fight Night 281 headliner at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Usman’s experience as a longtime 170-pound champion brings elite wrestling, clinch pressure and five-round experience, but he will be facing a former middleweight titleholder who has competed at the weight through his UFC run.
Both fighters have shared the cage with Khamzat Chimaev, but their results offer contrasting reference points. Usman accepted Chimaev on short notice at UFC 294 in October 2023 and lost a majority decision after surviving a difficult opening round, then competing closely through the final two rounds.
Du Plessis met Chimaev with the UFC middleweight title on the line in August 2025, but was controlled for long periods by the unbeaten Chechen fighter and lost a five-round decision. That comparison will naturally fuel questions around whether Usman’s wrestling can cause similar problems when he meets du Plessis at middleweight.
Usman has already shared a positive view of du Plessis’ toughness when discussing his bout with Chimaev in 2024. He said Chimaev could take du Plessis down and potentially keep him there for a round, while questioning whether that would be enough to produce a finish because “Dricus is very, very tough.”
For Usman, he cannot treat the matchup as a wrestling-only assignment. He will need to navigate du Plessis’ punching range and physicality before he can work toward the clinch and takedowns across five rounds.
