\u201cThe Nigerian Nightmare\u201d wants to be part of history.<\/p>\n
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight kingpin Kamaru Usman returns to action this weekend against<\/a> fellow former champion Dricus du Plessis in the main event of UFC Oklahoma City<\/a>, which goes down Sat., July 18, 2026, inside Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.<\/p>\n And he is not just moving up for fun.<\/p>\n Usman will compete at Middleweight for the second time in his legendary career after a failed attempt to secure a Welterweight title fight<\/a> with current champion Islam Makhachev. That fight did not come together, but instead of waiting around, Usman accepted another massive opportunity at 185 pounds.<\/p>\n \u201cJust the opportunity,\u201d Usman said during UFC Oklahoma City media day when asked why he moved up. \u201cI like to joke that I\u2019m a moneyweight fighter now, so if it\u2019s at Welterweight, I\u2019ll do it. If it\u2019s at Middleweight, s\u2014t, if it\u2019s at Light Heavyweight, I might do it. Usman already holds a win over current Middleweight champion Sean Strickland, although that came all the way back in 2017 at Welterweight. Meanwhile, Du Plessis owns two wins over Strickland<\/a> and is trying to fight his way back into the title picture himself after losing the belt.<\/p>\n So, if Usman goes out there and beats \u201cDDP,\u201d there is suddenly a very easy story to sell.<\/p>\n And that last part definitely matters to him.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I want [to be two-division champion],\u201d Usman said. \u201cThat\u2019s the one club I\u2019m not in yet. I\u2019d like to be in that club. I like being in all of the clubs here, but I\u2019m focused right now, trying to get into the champ-champ club.\u201d<\/p>\n Of course, Usman still has to get through Du Plessis first, which is no easy task.<\/p>\n But if Usman pulls it off, the Middleweight division could get very weird very fast and \u201cThe Nigerian Nightmare\u201d could be one win away from joining one of UFC\u2019s most exclusive clubs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt just fit and made sense,\u201d Usman continued. \u201cI obviously wanted the Islam fight. We talked about that. I thought that\u2019s what was going to be next. Unfortunately, in things like this, the company has a big say in this, and they felt this was an opportunity. Obviously, I\u2019ve been up here before and fought the former champion. This one just made sense at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n