Kamaru Usman calls himself a ‘moneyweight’ fighter before UFC return

Kamaru Usman is approaching his next UFC appearance with a familiar competitive edge and a different relationship with the scale. The former undisputed welterweight champion will face Dricus Du Plessis at UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs Usman in Oklahoma City, taking on a major middleweight challenge without changing the principle that guides his choices. Usman describes himself as a “moneyweight” fighter, saying he is prepared to compete wherever the opportunity makes sense rather than limiting himself to one division.

The move to 185 pounds offers a notable practical change during fight week. Usman said he arrived at the exact same weight he usually carries into a welterweight fight week, but he does not have to diet down the additional 15 pounds required for a 170-pound bout. He said that difference has affected his mood while leaving his standards intact. Usman said he still puts the same pressure on himself to succeed and has completed the same amount of work in preparation. The challenge, however, is substantial: Du Plessis is described as a former undisputed middleweight champion and one of the division’s biggest, strongest and hardest-hitting fighters.

Usman sees opportunity at 185 pounds

Usman’s explanation for fighting at middleweight is direct. He said he has long viewed himself as a fighter who can pursue the biggest challenges and rewards, whether those opportunities are at 170 or 185 pounds. “For me, I’ve always said this. I’m a ‘moneyweight’ fighter. So it’s not about ‘85 or ‘70. I can hit both,” Usman said. He acknowledged that he is not the biggest competitor in either weight class and suggested he may be the smallest at middleweight, but said his skills allow him to compete in both divisions. His position is that a move should happen when it makes sense.

The Oklahoma City matchup arrives after Usman’s recent run across both weight classes. Following an unbeaten stretch from his UFC debut in the summer of 2015 through the summer of 2022, he lost the welterweight title to Leon Edwards at UFC 278 and then lost the rematch on scorecards at UFC 286. Usman later moved up to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294, pushing the future champion in a losing effort. His most recent outing came back at 170 pounds, where he earned a unanimous decision over Joaquin Buckley and snapped Buckley’s six-fight winning streak. Now, Usman is again at middleweight and believes a victory over Du Plessis could move him toward a title opportunity.

Mental strength is central to Usman’s Du Plessis assessment

In discussing the matchup, Usman focused not only on physical attributes and technique but also on what he called the spiritual side of fighting. He said styles matter, yet a fighter also must account for an opponent’s spirit. Usman pointed to wrestling as an area that has presented difficulty for Du Plessis in prior fights, while also recognizing the challenge posed by his opponent’s size, strength, pace and gas tank. Usman said the size difference can matter when a strong grappler gets hold of an opponent and wears him down, but added that this is not an area in which he sees himself as weak. He expects an interesting fight and said his objective is to conquer Du Plessis’ spirit. Usman also said he remains motivated by criticism from people who question his ability to perform at this stage of his career, at this weight and against this opponent.

• Usman said he arrived for this fight week at the same weight he usually has for a welterweight fight week, with 15 fewer pounds to cut.
• Usman said he believes a win on Saturday would place him close to a middleweight title opportunity.

UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs Usman is scheduled for July 18, 2026, at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The prelims are set to begin at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT, followed by the main card at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. For Usman, the bout is more than a return to middleweight: it is a test of the flexible approach he has outlined, one built around pursuing the largest available opportunity while maintaining confidence that his preparation, skills and mentality travel across divisions.