
UFC Oklahoma City is on deck for the weekend (Sat., July 18, 2026) from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This is the first time UFC has been to Oklahoma since 2017 and only the third-ever visit to the state. The main event sees the Middleweight debut of former Welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, taking on former Middleweight roost-ruler, Dricus du Plessis.
The co-main features Jared Cannonier vs. Christian Leroy Duncan, also a Middleweight. The main card also has Chase Hooper vs. Mitch Ramirez, Tabatha Ricci vs. Fatima Kline and Tommy McMillen vs. Alberto Montes.
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Quite the downgrade from UFC 329, huh?
The “Prelims” are headlined by Austin Bashi vs. Jose Delgado. There’s also Seok Hyeon Ko vs. Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani on the undercard.
As always, there’s lots to bet on this card and we’ve got odds for all the fights below:
UFC OKC Main Card Money Line Odds
Dricus du Plessis (-230) vs. Kamaru Usman (+190)
It’s been about a year since du Plessis was part of one of the most one-sided UFC title fights in history opposite Khamzat Chimaev. I say “one of” since Islam Makhachev vs. Jake Della Maddalena happened a few months later. That was DDP’s first UFC loss and first loss since when Roberto Soldic knocked him out back in KSW in 2018.
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Usman showed he was 38 years-young when he dominated Joaquin Buckley a year ago. That was his first fight since his competitive loss to Chimaev back in Oct. 2023. The former champ turned 39 in May.
Du Plessis is the favorite in this match-up because of Usman’s advanced age and this being the Nigerian Nightmare’s debut at Middleweight. These two are pretty much the same size and I think Usman not needing to cut as much weight as his age is a positive. So, I’m not expecting the change in division to be much of a factor on this fight.
Despite being the underdog, I think Usman has a good shot at winning this. It is the “Year of the Unc,” after all. We’ve seen a lot of older fighters turn back younger challengers who are coming for their spots. That’s not quite what’s happening here. Usman is actually trying to take Du Plessis’ spot high up on the Middleweight pecking order. If Du Plessis wins this, then he might just book a trilogy fight with Strickland and the chance to go 3-0 against him.
Usman could give Du Plessis some problems, though. Du Plessis’ hard charging style is great for someone who is looking for reactive takedowns. And, as we saw in that Chimaev fight, Du Plessis can get smothered by an elite grappler. Usman was an elite grappler during his prime at Welterweight. He might still be good enough to hold Du Plessis down for longer than the South African would want.
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Du Plessis’ game is built on pressure and volume, but if he gets Usman to the fence, I see Usman doing pretty well at protecting himself and turning around a clinch or converting one to a takedown.
Given these odds, the Usman moneyline bet is pretty appealing to me. I’m a chicken, though, so I’m going to take Usman +5.5. I can get that at -110. I like this because I don’t think Du Plessis can finish Usman. He’s only ever been stopped by that hail Mary head kick from Leon Edwards and a submission in his second-ever pro fight. And if this goes to a decision, I think it’s a close one with Usman winning some rounds thanks to the takedown.
Best bet: Kamaru Usman +5.5 (-110)
Jared Cannonier (+270) vs. Christian Leroy Duncan (-340)
It’s been almost one year since we saw Cannonier fight. It was Aug. 16, 2025, when he was totally befuddled by Michael Page and dropped a unanimous decision. That came after his stunning fourth round finish over Gregory Rodrigues (see that here). Prior to that win, he was beaten by Caio Borralho and Nassourdine Imavov (be a somewhat early stoppage).
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Duncan has looked great lately. He lost a decision to Gregory Rodrigues in 2024, but has won four straight since then. He’s looked especially dynamic in his most recent wins, too. That includes a total shutout over Roman Dolidze and two spinning KO wins over Marco Tulio (who was undefeated) and Eryk Anders (see it here).
Cannonier has proved before that he’s good in spite of his age. But at 42 now… I just can’t believe we’re going to see that here, especially against someone as fast and as powerful as the 30 year-old Duncan.
Cannonier has gotten where he has with a relentless grinding style. This man beat Sean Strickland in 2022, remember? This style is getting harder to do with age and I think if he aggressively chases down Duncan he’s going to walk into one of those spinning attacks.
Cannonier is notoriously hard to stop, but that’s something else I think is changing with age. I think Duncan is going to keep his streak going here and get an impressive win.
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Best bet: Christian Leroy Duncan by KO/TKO (+165)
Chase Hooper (-355) vs. Mitch Ramirez (+280)
Hooper looked like he turned a corner when he beat up and submitted Viacheslav Borshchev in 2024. He followed that up with wins over Clay Guida and Jim Miller. However, since then he’s been finished by Alexander Hernandez and Lance Gibson Jr..
Ramirez books a main card spot despite being 0-2 in UFC and being out for a year. In his last fight he was pieced apart by Mike Davis for a second round TKO (see it here). Before that he was finished, by leg kicks, by Thiago Moises. Ramirez was also KO’d by Carlos Prates on Contender Series.
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Is this a gimme?
On paper it feels like this is a match-up designed to get Hooper back in the win column.
Now, with MMA, because we see fighters so rarely there’s all kinds of changes and improvements that can happen fight to fight. So Ramirez might come in here looking totally different than in previous showings. That happens sometimes, but it’s a big risk to favor someone based on that.
Hooper has shown us higher highs than Ramirez over the course of their careers, so I have to side with Vegas here in recognizing him as a big favorite.
The round total is 1.5 with the under at +110 and the over at -140. I don’t see a first round finish for either guy coming, based on their current form. So I’ll take the over.
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Best bet: Over 1.5 rounds (-140)
Tabatha Ricci (+330) vs. Fatima Kline (-425)
Ricci was dominated by Virna Jandiroba in April. That spoiled all the momentum she had from her face-breaking TKO over Amanda Ribas a year earlier (see it here). Before that she lost a decision to Yan Xiaonan.
Kline got a decision over Angela Hill in November. That followed her head kick KO over Melissa Martinez last July (see it here). She came into the UFC as a hot prospect, but lost her debut. That’s because she was given Jasmine Jasudavicius, up a weight class.
Ricci’s lack of grappling was totally exposed by Jandiroba. she was taken down six times and held down for a whopping eight minutes. Jandiroba is good at what she does, but Ricci looked totally clueless there and got demoralized early in the fight.
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Kline is not as overpowering as Jandiroba, but she is pretty good. Ricci’s lack of size is a big reason she can get squashed by grapplers and she’s going to face that issue in this fight, too. Kline is five inches taller with six inches of reach. All that is going to make this a steep uphill battle for her.
Best bet: Fatima Kline by decision (-175)
Responsible Betting
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Tommy McMillen (-135) vs. Alberto Montes (+114)
McMillen, best known for being boys with Sean O’Malley, got to 10-0 with a first round technical knockout over Manolo Zecchini in April (see it here). He earned a performance bonus for that one. Previously, he beat David Mgoyan by decision on Contender Series (though he had to come from behind to do that).
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Montes is a front choke specialist. He put Ricky Turcios to sleep in March (see it here). He’s won his last four fights by either D’arce or anaconda choke.
I’m a sucker fora submission specialists, whether it’s Valter Walker or Paul Sass.
McMillen was taken down early in his Contender Series fight, so I’m going to assume that Montes will be able to get takedowns on him, too. McMillen’s submission defense is untested, but I’m buying into Montes as the front choke machine. I’ll bet that he gets him.
McMillen is taller and longer than Montes (five inches reach advantage), but Montes just beat Turcios who is also taller and longer (though not to that extreme).
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Best bet: Alberto Montes by submission (+250)
UFC OKC ‘Prelims’ Under Card Odds
Jose Delgado (-115) vs. Austin Bashi (-105)
This is kind of a weird match-up, between two guys who had been talked up as hot prospects last year.
Delgado starched Connor Matthews to start his UFC career in early 2025 and then took out Hyder Amil in just 26 seconds. After that he lost a decision to Nathaniel Wood that was super close. I scored it 29-28 for Delgado, but I’m not calling that a robbery — just a very close fight. In his most recent fight, in March, he took a split decision over Andre Fili.
Bashi debuted for UFC in Jan. 2025 against Christian Rodriguez. He was a -270 favorite there. Rodriguez played prospect killer, though, for the second time in his career. He took a unanimous decision over the wrestling stud. Eight months later Bashi got a quick submission win over John Yannis (see it here).
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Bashi seems like a nice wrestle-boxer. But I think the deck is a little stacked against him in this fight. Delgado is more experienced and mature, he’s a lot bigger (with a four inch reach advantage) and he has a similar skillset to Rodriguez (who caused Bashi all kinds of trouble).
So, I’m quite surprised to see the odds so close here. Maybe the oddsmakers don’t like that Fili got four takedowns on Delgado? I don’t love that, but Delgado works fast on the feet and was able to cancel out those takedowns with his striking success. He also had a size disadvantage against Fili and still spent only twenty or so seconds on the ground per takedown.
Best bet: Jose Delgado moneyline (-115)
Seok Hyeon Ko (-218) vs. Jean Paul Lebosnoyani (+180)
This is my favorite fight on the entire card. Both these guys have looked very fun since joining UFC last year.
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Ko fought Oban Elliott and put in a complete performance to earn a lopsided unanimous decision. That was the best UFC debut of the year, for me. He then totally outwrestled Phil Rowe for another lopsided decision in November. He was due to fight Jacobe Smith in February, but had to pull out due to a rib injury.
Lebosnoyani was a very fun action fighter in LFA. He earned his way into UFC with a head kick finish on Contender Series last year. In his debut he won a split decision over Phil Rowe, where he showed flashes of what makes him an exciting fighter to watch. Most who watched that fight scored it a unanimous decision for Lebosnoyani, by the way.
I think this will be a really good fight, especially in the striking exchanges. However, I think the difference will be in the wrestling department. Ko has looked very good on the mat, against two pretty good names to start his UFC career against.
We haven’t seen much of Lebosnoyani’s ground game. Though, nowadays (in the age of strikers) it seems like everyone who fights has a pretty decent level of takedown defense and BJJ. That being said, I think Ko’s good striking and very good grappling will cover all his bases against Lebosnoyani.
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If Lebosnoyani does get the win, I wouldn’t be surprised. But, I am quite high on Ko.
Best bet: Seok Hyeon Ko moneyline (-218)
Felipe Franco (+142) vs. Levi Rodrigues Jr. (-170)
Franco came in on short notice for a UFC debut in March. That was against the much hyped Mario Pinto. He was a +600 underdog for that fight. But Franco took a round off Pinto and made that Heavyweight prospect look rather average.
Rodrigues Jr. is the favorite here despite having just a 5-0 record. He won by TKO on Contender Series in October, but had that overturned due to a PED test failure.
This should be a TUF: Brazil fight, if those are still a thing. I don’t think either of these guys will be on the roster at the end of the year. Franco’s stifling game looked good as an underdog last time out. Maybe he does that again, with better results, against the smaller favorite here.
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Best bet: Felipe Franco moneyline (+142)
Alden Coria (-1050) vs. Stewart Nicoll (+675)
Coria dominated Luis Gurule in his last fight. That was in February. Before that he scored a third round TKO over Alessandro Costa (see it here). That was his short notice UFC debut and he was a +295 underdog. Costa has won three straight since then, all by stoppage.
Nicoll is 0-3 in UFC. In his debut he was submitted by Jesus Aguilar. He was a -225 favorite there. Since then he’s lost to Lucas Rocha and Costa (via TKO).
Nicoll has not looked comfortable in a UFC cage since he joined the promotion. Coria is the opposite. He looked at home since he first stepped in there. I’m surprised to see Gable Steveson odds on this match-up, but it seems pretty obvious that Coria is going to have a field day with Nicoll on the feet.
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Nicoll has a negative strike differential of over 2. That’s really bad. I think he can survive a round, though. The total is 1.5 here and I’ll take the over.
Nicoll lasted almost two rounds with Costa. And Coria hasn’t won in the first round since 2021.
Best bet: Over 1.5 rounds (-160)
Alvin Hines (-135) vs. RJ Harris (+114)
Hines was signed off LFA to fight Jhonata Diniz on short notice about a year ago. He took Diniz the distance as a +360 underdog and earned lots of fans. A lengthy ban for PEDs came after that, though.
Harris is a newcomer to UFC. He’s also from LFA, having beaten Phillip Latu by submission a few months ago. He’s only 5-0 as a pro. He is 6’ 6”, though.
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Hines was a rare example of a Heavyweight with a motor. But how much of that was down to the gear? I don’t like his year absence, PED test failure or size disadvantage, but I think he’s the best fighter in the match-up. So I’ll hope that ends up being the telling difference in the fight.
Also, height can be a double-edged sword, especially at Heavyweight, where guys spam overhand rights.
Best bet: Alvin Hines moneyline (-135)
Anna Melisano (+400) vs. Dione Barbosa (-535)
Melisano is making her debut here. She’s 6-1 as a pro and is coming off a title win in Fury FC. Her only pro loss was in her debut, to Cheyanne Bowers (a recent LFA champion). She also fought, and lost to, Carli Judice as an amateur.
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Barbosa is 3-2 in UFC. She got a majority decision over Melissa Gatto in April. Before that she lost to Karine Silva, by unanimous decision.
Barbosa is very inconsistent, but she should have too much for the newcomer. She’s an Olympian (judo), but we’re yet to see much to back that up. Maybe it is taking her some time to synthesize that grappling into her MMA game and maybe we’ll see more of that as time goes on. I’ll take the under here and hope she has that throw to armbar combo ready to go against someone she is a heavy favorite against.
Best bet: Under 2.5 rounds (-145)
Damien Anderson vs. Ezra Elliott
BJJ pro (and former UFC Fight Pass Invitational grappler) Anderson makes his debut here on short notice. He’s 5-0 in MMA and is coming off a kneebar win in CFFC.
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Elliott fights out of The MMA Lab. He’s 7-0 with fights in LFA and RUF.
There’s no odds for this one, yet. But, Anderson’s grappling bona fides will probably have him as the favorite.
Best bet: Damien Anderson moneyline (?)
UFC Oklahoma Long Shots!
Here’s a couple of long shots for Saturday night’s action …
Kamaru Usman by KO/TKO/DQ (+600)
I like Usman in this match-up. And, after all, it is the Year of the Unc. I think his most likely path to winning over Du Plessis is via wrestling. But what if he uncorks a massive overhand on the South African (who is known for taking his fair share of risks on the feet)?
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Fatima Kline by Submission (+750)
Kline is a decent-sized favorite over Ricci and that’s because it seems like that she will be able to use her size and her grappling to take her down and smother her. I think that’s going to happen and I think there will be submission opportunities for Kline while she does all this.
Tommy McMillen vs. Alberto Montes – First Minute Finish (+900)
I’m on the Montes hype train and I’d love to see him get the quick front choke finish in this fight.
