Charting Kamaru Usman’s Next Move Following UFC Oklahoma City Defeat

Kamaru Usman took a bold step toward reclaiming past glory in the UFC Fight Night 281 main event, but fell short of his objective.

The former longtime welterweight champion, now 21-5 in mixed martial arts and 16-4 in the UFC, moved up to middleweight once again on Saturday. He aimed to reshape the later stages of his career by taking on recently dethroned titleholder Dricus du Plessis, 24-3 (10-1 UFC), at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The bout did not go in his favor.

The gap in size and power proved too significant for Usman to neutralize. Across 25 minutes, he absorbed heavy shots from Du Plessis while remaining on his feet, and produced his strongest offensive sequences late in the final round. This was clearly not the same Usman who once dominated the division, nor the version that gave Khamzat Chimaev a tough challenge on short notice during his prior middleweight appearance in October 2023.

That is understandable given Usman is 39 years old and has competed only three times in the last three years. The additional 15 pounds he carried into the middleweight contest likely slowed him against Du Plessis and placed greater strain on his well-documented knee issues.

Despite those factors, Usman remains highly competitive. He held his own in two middleweight bouts against former champions Du Plessis and Chimaev, not to mention his Hall of Fame-caliber record at 170 pounds.

Still, the sport is judged on outcomes. On record, Usman is 1-4 in his last five appearances and nears his 40th birthday within nine months. History suggests more difficult nights lie ahead than triumphant ones, raising the question of how many more fights he intends to take, and at which weight class.

Those questions were posed at the UFC Fight Night 281 post-fight press conference to both Usman and UFC CEO Dana White. Usman offered no firm answer, indicating willingness to fight at either weight if the matchup made sense. White extended respect by leaving the door open to whatever Usman decides.

At this stage, one bout stands out: a long-anticipated grudge match with Belal Muhammad. The two former champions were involved in a physical confrontation while recording a podcast years ago; the footage was never released and details remain largely unofficial. Muhammad, 24-6 (15-6 UFC), faces his own career crossroads at 38, having dropped his last three fights since winning UFC gold. He has repeatedly called for a bout with Usman. Once imagined as a title fight, the contest now carries different weight, as another loss could intensify retirement speculation for either man.

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