The UFC Betting main card for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City opens with a featherweight clash. Specifically, between undefeated prospect Tommy McMillen and Alberto Montes. The match offers an exciting mix of striking and grappling potential from two hungry young fighters.
Next up is a lightweight bout featuring Chase Hooper against Mitch Ramirez. This match brings flashy submissions, and the latter looks to test that with solid pressure.
In the co-main event, middleweight action, Jared Cannonier takes on Christian Leroy Duncan. Certainly, it promises to be a striking heavy clash. The match pits the veteran power of Cannonier against the technical precision of the rising Englishman.
Most important of all, headlining the evening is the middleweight showdown between current champion Dricus du Plessis and former welterweight king Kamaru Usman. It is a fascinating stylistic battle of du Plessis grinding pressure and wrestling against Usman’s elite kickboxing and experience.
UFC Fight Night Du Plessis vs. Usman Main Card
| Date and Time: | Saturday, July 18, 2026, 8 PM ET. |
|---|---|
| Location: | Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. |
| TV Coverage: | Paramount Plus |
Du Plessis vs. Usman UFC
| Fighter | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|
| Kamaru Usman | 3½ ( -195 ) | +195 |
| Dricus Du Plessis | 3½ ( +170 ) | -230 |
The UFC Fight Night headlined by Dricus du Plessis versus Kamaru Usman is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The preliminary card begins at five o’clock in the evening Eastern Time. And then the main card starts at 8 o’clock Eastern Time.
All of the action streams live on Paramount Plus with standard UFC broadcast coverage. Including weigh-ins on Friday and extensive preview segments across platforms in the days leading up to the event.
Main Event Overview and Analysis
Dricus du Plessis enters this middleweight main event as the heavy online betting favorite. Correlate that he is looking to rebound from his title loss to Khamzat Chimaev last summer. Kamaru Usman makes his return to 185 pounds after a solid welterweight win over Joaquin Buckley.
Du Plessis brings relentless pace, high volume, striking, and strong wrestling, with finishing power that has seen him stop 20 of his 23 career wins, including notable victories over Sean Strickland twice, Israel Adesanya, and Robert Whittaker.
Usman, the former longtime welterweight champion, relies on elite kickboxing, wrestling, defense, and fight IQ. But at 39, he steps up in weight class against a younger, more durable opponent in du Plessis. Du Plessis holds advantages in recent activity and finishing threat.
Specifically, the key for du Plessis will be using his pressure and grappling to wear down Usman throughout the fight. Kamaru Usman needs to use his jab and distance management to avoid the clinch and capitalize on any defensive lapses with counterstrikes.
Overall, most analysts see this as a tough stylistic test for the aging Usman. His knee issues and move up in weight could prove decisive. Thus, giving du Plessis the edge in a likely competitive but grueling fight that goes the distance or ends with a late stoppage for the South African.
UFC Fight Night SBG Free Picks
For the main event, the strongest UFC Betting odds value appears to be on Dricus du Plessis. Specifically, he should get the job done at a distance against Kamaru Usman. Due to his finishing rate and the wear and tear on the former champion as he moves up in weight.
Finally, Jared Cannonier presents a solid underdog appeal against Christian Leroy Duncan. The veteran should be able to use his experience and power to grind out a decision or find a late finish against the younger prospect.
UFC Fight Night Best Bets: Dricus du Plessis and Jared Cannonier.