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Two former UFC champions collide at the top of the middleweight division as Dricus Du Plessis meets Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman (also billed as UFC Oklahoma City / UFC Fight Night 281). Here's everything you need — start times, the full fight card, live stream details, and how to watch from anywhere.

UFC Du Plessis vs. Usman: Key Details at a Glance

• Event: UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman (UFC Oklahoma City)
• Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026
• Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Main Card Start Time: 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
• Prelims Start Time: 5:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. PT
• Where to Watch (U.S.): Paramount+ (entire card)
• Main Event: Dricus Du Plessis (23-3) vs. Kamaru Usman (21-4), Middleweight, 5 rounds

This card marks the UFC's return to Oklahoma City for the first time in nearly a decade — the promotion's first visit since UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee back in June 2017.

What Time Does UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman Start?

The action runs in two parts:

• Prelims: 5:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. PT
• Main Card: 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT

International Start Times (Main Card)

• UK: 1:00 a.m. BST (Sunday, July 19)
• Australia (AEST): 10:00 a.m. (Sunday, July 19)
• Central Europe (CEST): 2:00 a.m. (Sunday, July 19)

Times are approximate and depend on how quickly the prelims wrap up — the main card can start earlier or later.

How to Watch UFC Du Plessis vs. Usman: Live Stream Info

In the United States, the entire event streams live on Paramount+, including both the prelims and the main card. There is no separate pay-per-view charge — every UFC Fight Night and numbered event is included with a Paramount+ subscription.

• U.S.: Paramount+
• International: Availability varies by region — check your local UFC broadcast partner or UFC Fight Pass where applicable.

If you're a cord-cutter, Paramount+ works across smart TVs, streaming devices (Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV), mobile apps, and web browsers, so you can watch on essentially any screen.

Full Fight Card: UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman

Main Card (8:00 p.m. ET — Paramount+)

• Dricus Du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman — Middleweight (Main Event, 5 rounds)
• Jared Cannonier vs. Christian Leroy Duncan — Middleweight (Co-Main Event)
• Chase Hooper vs. Mitch Ramirez — Lightweight
• Tabatha Ricci vs. Fatima Kline — Women's Strawweight
• Tommy McMillen vs. Alberto Montes — Middleweight

Preliminary Card (5:00 p.m. ET — Paramount+)

• Austin Bashi vs. Jose Delgado — Featherweight
• Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani vs. Seok Hyeon Ko — Welterweight
• Levi Rodrigues vs. Felipe Franco — Light Heavyweight
• Alden Coria vs. Stewart Nicoll — Flyweight
• RJ Harris vs. Alvin Hines — Heavyweight
• Anna Melisano vs. Dione Barbosa — Women's Flyweight

Fight cards are always subject to late changes due to weight misses, injuries, and withdrawals. This event already saw shuffling — Amanda Ribas withdrew and was replaced by Tabatha Ricci, and Brad Tavares pulled out of a scheduled bout. Confirm the final lineup on fight day.

Main Event Preview: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman

This is a genuine crossroads fight between two men who have each held UFC gold.

Dricus Du Plessis (23-3) enters looking to bounce back from the first loss of his UFC run — a one-sided defeat to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in August 2025 that cost him the middleweight title and snapped an 11-fight winning streak. "Stillknocks" had gone nearly seven years without a loss and owns marquee wins over the likes of Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland. He'll want to reassert himself as the division's top contender and get straight back into the title conversation.

Kamaru Usman (21-4), one of the greatest welterweights in UFC history, makes a full-fledged return to the 185-pound division. "The Nigerian Nightmare" — a former long-reigning welterweight king with wins over Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal, and Tyron Woodley — nearly upset Chimaev on short notice at middleweight three years ago. This time he arrives with a full camp and a clear goal: a win here could vault him toward a shot at becoming a two-division champion. Usman also shares a common opponent with Du Plessis, having beaten reigning-era contender Sean Strickland.

The stakes: With the middleweight title picture wide open, the winner positions himself right at the front of the queue. Expect a tactical, high-IQ battle — Du Plessis' relentless pressure and awkward volume against Usman's elite wrestling and championship-level fight management.

Co-Main Event: Jared Cannonier vs. Christian Leroy Duncan

The co-main features veteran power-puncher Jared Cannonier against surging England prospect Christian Leroy Duncan in a middleweight clash with real rankings implications. It's a classic experience-versus-upside matchup: Cannonier's one-shot knockout threat against Duncan's length, athleticism, and momentum.

Frequently Asked Questions

What channel is UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman on? In the U.S., the full event streams on Paramount+. There's no additional PPV fee.

What time is the Du Plessis vs. Usman main event? The main card starts at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT, with the main event walkouts typically coming later in the night depending on how the earlier bouts finish.

Where is UFC Oklahoma City taking place? The Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — the UFC's first event in the city in almost 10 years.

Who is on the main card? Du Plessis vs. Usman headlines, with Cannonier vs. Duncan in the co-main, plus Chase Hooper vs. Mitch Ramirez, Tabatha Ricci vs. Fatima Kline, and Tommy McMillen vs. Alberto Montes.

How many rounds is the main event? Five rounds, as is standard for a UFC Fight Night main event.

Fight cards, start times, and broadcast details are subject to change. Always verify with official UFC and Paramount+ listings before fight night.