UFC Oklahoma City Post-Fight Analysis — Dricus Du Plessis Reigns Supreme in a Historic Night of Fights
The roar at UFC Oklahoma City didn’t feel like a typical Fight Night crowd, it felt like a turning point. Dricus du Plessis walked into the Paycom Center with championship expectations on his shoulders and walked out looking every bit the division’s problem. Christian Leroy Duncan finally cashed in on years of “dark horse” buzz with the kind of finish that forces matchmakers to pay attention. Chase Hooper quietly reminded everyone that slick grappling changes careers, and Tommy McMillen didn’t just win, he put himself in the record books.
From established contenders tightening their grip on the rankings to prospects announcing their arrival with violent clarity, UFC Oklahoma City was one of those cards where every result seemed to matter. Let’s dive into how du Plessis imposed his will in the main event, why Duncan’s victory redefines his ceiling, how Hooper’s resurgence reshapes his trajectory, and what made McMillen’s performance truly historic.
Du Plessis Dismantles Usman in a Lopsided Main Event
Dricus Du Plessis walked into this middleweight main event as the betting favorite, and he made sure there was no doubt about who the better fighter was on this night. “Stillknocks” put on a five-round clinic, out-landing Kamaru Usman across nearly every statistical category en route to a comprehensive unanimous decision victory, with scores of 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46.
The numbers tell the story of total control. Du Plessis out-landed Usman 139-99 in total strikes and 92-49 in significant head strikes, while also controlling the fight defensively, Usman only found 6 seconds of control time compared to Du Plessis’s 24 seconds, and neither man landed a takedown all night.
That statistic is particularly notable given Usman’s background as one of the greatest wrestlers to ever compete in the welterweight division; Du Plessis simply never allowed him the opportunities to change levels and impose his signature grappling-based game plan.
Du Plessis moved to 24-3 overall and 10-1 inside the Octagon, while Usman fell to 21-5, snapping any momentum the former welterweight champion had built in his move up to 185 pounds. The manner of the win, smart and calculated, was exactly what elite championship-level fighters do against dangerous opposition. Usman never found his rhythm, and Du Plessis never let him find one. Expect this win to fast-track “Stillknocks” back into the title conversation.
“CLD” Gets Biggest Win of His Career Against Jared Cannonier
If the main event was defined by control, the co-main event was defined by a surging prospect making a name for himself. Christian Leroy Duncan, an ascending name few outside hardcore MMA circles were talking about heading into fight week, delivered the biggest win of his career by outpointing veteran contender Jared Cannonier via unanimous decision, with scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28.
Cannonier entered this fight ranked No. 11 in the middleweight division and carrying significant name recognition after years of headlining cards and testing former champions. The pre-fight expectation was that CLD would come away victorious based in his -300 betting line. But if there is anyone who can halt a prospect in his tracks, it’s the powerful “Killa Gorilla”. But unfortunately for Cannonier, the young, athletic, and clearly the faster man in the cage, Duncan, used range and volume over three rounds to consistently win exchanges and frustrate his attempts to land his trademark power shots.
Duncan has now beaten his second ranked opposition and figures to see a top-10 opponent next. For Cannonier, at 18-10, this loss raises real questions about where he goes from here in a stacked 185-pound division that is only getting deeper and younger.
Fast Finishes Define the Rest of the Main Card
Beyond the two headline bouts, Saturday’s card in Oklahoma City was full of quick, decisive finishes that will make highlight reels for weeks.
Tommy McMillen stole the show and kept his undefeated record intact, stopping Alberto Montes via TKO with punches at 3:29 of Round 3 to move to 11-0. It was a hard-fought, drawn-out battle to where McMillen’s pace, cardio, and volume wore out Montes across three rounds. Eventually, McMillen overwhelmed Montes until he couldn’t take any more, getting his second finish and second post-fight bonus in as many fights inside the Octagon. “The Real American Gangster” made a statement and has truly become a fan favorite and a force to be reckoned with in the featherweight division.
Chase Hooper snapped a two-fight losing skid in dominant fashion, submitting Mitch Ramirez via rear-naked choke just 2:15 into Round 1. Hooper weathered an aggressive opening flurry from Ramirez, then changed levels, took the back, locked in a body triangle, and calmly worked the choke home before Ramirez had any real chance to escape. The win came despite Hooper missing weight for the bout, but it was a much-needed return to form for the 26-year-old featherweight after back-to-back knockout losses.
Jose Delgado picked up a clean unanimous decision win over Austin Bashi, sweeping the cards 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28 in a featherweight scrap that saw him put on a show in an entertaining scrap. Delgado landed some big shots, flooring Bashi at one point, and just looked like the bigger, faster, and more explosive fighter inside the Octagon. Now at 12-2 (4-1 UFC), there is a chance Delgado gets his crack at ranked opposition next.
RJ Harris stole the show on the prelims with maybe the most violent finish of the entire card, dropping heavyweight opponent Alvin Hines with a perfectly timed right uppercut before finishing him with ground-and-pound at just 1:40 of Round 1. Harris improved to a perfect 6-0 as a professional in his promotional debut, and the pure highlight-reel nature of the knockout, Hines was sent completely off his feet before crashing to the canvas.
Final Takeaways
UFC Oklahoma City proved to be far more than just a stepping-stone show between bigger numbered events. Dricus Du Plessis reminded the middleweight division exactly why he remains one of its most dangerous and well-rounded fighters, methodically breaking down a former champion, Kamaru Usman, without ever taking unnecessary risks. Christian Leroy Duncan’s big win over Jared Cannonier has put him on the map as a contender to watch for the last half of 2026.
Add in statement performances from Tommy McMillen, Chase Hooper, and debutant RJ Harris, and Paycom Center in Oklahoma City delivered a card that punched well above its billing. With Du Plessis now firmly in the title conversation and several new contenders emerging from the undercard, both have plenty of fresh storylines heading into the back half of 2026.