Former Ultimate Fighting Championship champion Dricus Du Plessis returned to winning ways at UFC Oklahoma City.
Nearly a year after losing his middleweight belt to Khamzat Chimaev, du Plessis returned to action in a five-rounder against former welterweight champ Kamaru Usman, earning a lopsided unanimous decision win. The South African’s return made him realize how much he loves and belongs in the sport.
UFC champion Dricus Du Plessis explains his mindset after beating Kamaru Usman
“Stillknocks” was clearly on top in the opening two rounds, with Usman finding his range in the third frame before du Plessis regained his momentum in the fourth. Usman found a second wind in the final round, but it was too little too late for “The Nigerian Nightmare,” who was on the wrong end of a 50-45, 49-46, 49-46 scorecard.
Having spent 11 months on the sidelines coming off a loss, du Plessis believes that one can forget what it’s like inside the Octagon during a lengthy hiatus. However, as soon as the fight commenced, he felt right at home.
“Especially when you are away for that kind of time, you almost forget what it’s like to be there, dancing under the lights,” du Plessis said after the fight. “But man, tonight I just walked out there again and I realized… This is what I live with… This is what this is about… This is why I started this game. I loved going out there and fighting, but more than that, I loved competing.”
He further emphasized that the pressure he feels in front of thousands of fans in attendance is exactly what gets the best out of him.
