UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis and Usman set for Oklahoma City clash as betting markets shift
Second-ranked Dricus du Plessis faces ninth-ranked Kamaru Usman in the main event, with SportsLine analyst Kyle Marley highlighting key betting angles for the card.
The Paycom Center in Oklahoma City will host UFC Fight Night on Saturday, headlined by a high-stakes middleweight bout between second-ranked Dricus du Plessis and ninth-ranked Kamaru Usman. The main card is scheduled to commence at approximately 7 p.m. ET, broadcast exclusively on Paramount+.
Du Plessis enters the contest as a -205 favourite against Usman, who is listed at +170 according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The betting markets have set the over/under for total rounds at 3.5, indicating an expectation of a relatively early conclusion to the five-round main event.
The matchup carries significant narrative weight following recent developments in both fighters' careers. Du Plessis is seeking to rebound from a unanimous decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319, where he contested the middleweight championship. Conversely, Usman is looking to build momentum after snapping a three-bout losing streak with a unanimous decision victory over Joaquin Buckley in June 2025.
SportsLine expert Kyle Marley has released a series of betting picks for the card, backing du Plessis in the main event. Marley, who has generated over $21,000 in returns on $100 bets since May 2018, also identified an unnamed underdog described as an "aggressive wrestler who fights at a high pace" as a strong value pick for the undercard.
On the preliminary card, Marley has selected Dione Barbosa (-675) to defeat UFC debutant Anna Melisano (+490) via submission in a women's flyweight bout. Marley notes that while Melisano presents offensive striking threats, she exhibits defensive vulnerabilities that should allow Barbosa, who holds a grappling edge, to control the fight and secure a ground-based victory.
The main event features two former champions with distinct statistical profiles. Du Plessis, 32, holds a 23-3 career record with nine knockouts and 11 submissions, having secured wins over former champions Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya, and Sean Strickland. Usman, 39, maintains a 21-4 record and holds the UFC welterweight division record for a 15-bout winning streak and a 97.3 per cent takedown defence percentage.
Full event coverage and detailed expert analysis are available through SportsLine, with betting lines subject to change. Viewers can access the main card and all preliminary bouts via Paramount+ subscription.
