Usman Reveals Torn Pec in Du Plessis Loss

Kamaru Usman has disclosed that he fought Dricus du Plessis with a torn pectoral muscle, adding significant context to a difficult unanimous-decision defeat in the UFC Oklahoma City main event. The former UFC welterweight champion addressed the injury during an episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast after former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo raised the subject. Usman did not present the injury as a reason to revise the result, but he acknowledged that wrestling was central to the plan and that carrying the injury made executing that approach difficult.

Du Plessis won the July 18, 2026 main event at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with a lopsided unanimous decision. Usman had a strong fifth round, but the supplied account says he was not very competitive for most of the fight. He was rocked several times, struggled to close distance and could not consistently take du Plessis down. That sequence matters because Usman said he is a wrestler and wanted to use that part of his game. The torn-pec disclosure does not change the official outcome, yet it directly addresses a key part of the contest: his difficulty getting to the positions needed to implement his wrestling.

Usman refuses to lean on the injury

Cejudo said he had opposed Usman taking the fight with one pectoral muscle compromised. He also pointed to criticism of Usman after du Plessis stopped his takedown attempts, arguing that getting into those positions is different when a fighter does not have a fully healthy pec. Usman accepted the underlying point without adopting the explanation as an excuse. He said fighters roll the dice every time, that sometimes an issue goes unnoticed when things work out, and that this time it did not work out. The distinction in Usman’s response is important. He confirmed the injury and connected it to the type of performance he wanted to deliver, while still accepting responsibility for competing under those circumstances. Rather than disputing du Plessis’ win, he described the physical limitation as part of the risk he accepted by entering the bout. His comments also keep the focus on the practical challenge: he wanted to utilize wrestling, but said doing so was tough with the injury. The fight itself gave that explanation a clear sporting frame. Du Plessis stuffed Usman’s attempts, hurt him on the feet and won the decision. Usman’s late strong round showed he continued working through the fight, but it did not erase the broader pattern described in the source. The injury therefore supplies context for a specific tactical problem, not a substitute result or a claim that the contest should be viewed differently on the scorecards.

Usman’s comments also came as he considered a larger question than the condition of his pectoral muscle. After the loss, he was noncommittal about his UFC future and said he does not want to remain in the sport simply to collect a paycheck. He said he is interested in big opportunities. In his later remarks, he said he needs to sit with his coaches and team, assess where he is in his career and decide whether continuing is worthwhile. He also framed that review around the people close to him, saying he has not gone out and failed to represent them appropriately.

Career decision remains unresolved

No retirement decision was announced in the material. What Usman confirmed is a process: conversations with his coaches and team, followed by an assessment of his career position and whether he should continue. That is a meaningful difference from declaring either an immediate return or an immediate exit. The next confirmed step is evaluation, not a booked fight, recovery timetable or final announcement. The source identifies Usman as 39 years old in 2026 and says he has lost four of his last five fights. It also describes the pec issue as another serious injury. Those details explain why his post-fight reflection extends beyond one loss, but they do not establish what conclusion he will reach. Usman’s own language was measured: he said he has to assess everything and see whether continuing to do this is worth it. Until those discussions take place, his competitive future remains open rather than settled. For now, the most concrete development is the combination of disclosure and restraint. Usman revealed a substantial limitation, explained how it affected the wrestling he planned to use, and declined to turn it into an excuse. At the same time, he left the door open to retirement while making clear that he will weigh the decision with the people around him.

• Confirmed fight context: Du Plessis defeated Usman by lopsided unanimous decision in the UFC Oklahoma City main event on July 18, 2026.
• Confirmed future context: Usman said he must meet with his coaches and team to assess his career and whether continuing is worthwhile.

Usman’s torn-pec revelation provides a specific explanation for why his preferred wrestling route was so hard to establish against du Plessis. It does not alter the unanimous-decision loss, and Usman himself refused to treat it as an excuse. His next decision is also not final: he has said he will assess the situation with his coaches and team before determining whether his UFC career continues.