LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 13: Kamaru Usman of Nigeria reacts after his victory over Gilbert Burns of Brazil in their UFC welterweight championship fight during the UFC 258 event at UFC APEX on February 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
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One of the most interesting middleweight clashes of 2026 has a date and a surprising location. Oklahoma City is getting a banger of a main event and the rest of the card is amazing too. Let’s talk MMA.
Key Facts At A Glance
- Event: UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman
- Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026
- Location: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City
- Main Event: Dricus du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman (middleweight)
- Co-Main: Jared Cannonier vs. Christian Leroy Duncan (middleweight)
- Broadcast: Paramount+ (prelims 5 p.m. ET, main card 8 p.m. ET)
Who Headlines UFC Oklahoma City?
The card is headlined by two former champions. Former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis clashes with former welterweight champ Kamaru Usman.
Dricus du Plessis (23-3) returns for the first time since losing the middleweight belt last August, while Kamaru Usman (21-4) jumps up to 185 chasing two-division history. Du Plessis is a relentless finisher and Usman built his name on suffocating wrestling, so this is a genuine clash of styles among the division’s elite. A statement win for either man reopens the path to a UFC title shot in a division still sorting out its next challenger.
When And Where Is UFC Oklahoma City?
The event takes place the week after Conor McGregor returns to the UFC’s Octagon.
McGregor’s comeback is set for July 11, which puts UFC Oklahoma City exactly one week later on Saturday, July 18 at Paycom Center. The card marks the promotion’s first trip to the city since 2017, making it a notable homecoming, and it slots neatly into the rest of the UFC’s summer schedule.
What Is The Full UFC Oklahoma City Fight Card?
The co-main event and supporting fights make this one of the premier Fight Night cards so far in 2026.
Since the main event was announced, the UFC has filled out the lineup with eight more bouts, loading the card with undefeated talent and fast-rising prospects across several divisions, including women’s strawweight and flyweight action. Several fighters enter unbeaten, and the card skews young, the kind of Fight Night that tends to launch tomorrow’s contenders. Here is the full announced card:
- Dricus du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman
- Jared Cannonier vs. Christian Leroy Duncan
- Kevin Holland vs. Jacobe Smith
- Alden Coria vs. Stewart Nicoll
- Austin Bashi vs. Jose Delgado
- Tommy McMillen vs. Alberto Montes
- Tabatha Ricci vs. Fatima Kline
- Levi Rodrigues Jr. vs. Felipe Franco
- Allen Frye Jr. vs. Alvin Hines
- Chase Hooper vs. Mitch Ramirez
- Veronica Hardy vs. Dione Barbosa
How Can You Watch UFC Oklahoma City?
Like all of the UFC’s events, fans can watch UFC Oklahoma City in its entirety on Paramount Plus.
Prelims start at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT, with the main card following at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on July 18. With no pay-per-view attached, the entire show is included for Paramount+ subscribers, which makes it an easy, low-cost watch for anyone already signed up.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
