Kamaru Usman is eager to see how his body responds to a full training camp at middleweight as he prepares to face Dricus Du Plessis in the main event of UFC Oklahoma on Saturday night.
The former UFC welterweight champion will make just his second appearance at 185 pounds when he takes on the former middleweight titleholder in a pivotal matchup.
Usman's first venture into the division came under far different circumstances. In October 2023, he accepted a short-notice fight against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294, moving up in weight with limited preparation time. Although he ultimately lost a majority decision, Usman believes the experience showed him the benefits of competing without the grueling weight cut required at welterweight.
Speaking to CBS Sports earlier this week, Usman explained that having a full camp to prepare at middleweight has allowed him to better understand the differences in managing his body and energy levels.
“You have to really diet, and it takes the time to go through that process of getting down,” Usman said. “You build kind of a way to sustain that energy and how to be efficient in the fight.”
Reflecting on his bout with Chimaev, Usman admitted he may have been fighting with the wrong mindset regarding his conditioning.
“And I think when I went in there in that middleweight bout with Khamzat Chimaev, I was still kind of trying to operate on that type of efficiency,” he said. “And then next thing you know, it's two and a half rounds and I'm like... you know, it feels like round one to me.”
The former champion suggested that, in hindsight, he could have pushed a much higher pace.
“Man, I should have taken five. I should have really given myself the time,” Usman said.
Now, with a complete camp behind him and without the need to cut down to 170 pounds, Usman believes he could benefit from having significantly more energy available on fight night.
“So I think it's just having that extra reserve of not having to deplete yourself so much to get all the way down to welterweight,” he said. “So I think it was great for me.”
The challenge awaiting him, however, is one of the division's biggest and most durable competitors. Du Plessis has built a reputation for maintaining a relentless pace over five rounds, something Usman is eager to test himself against.
“I'm interested to see how that plays a factor here when I'm going up against a big, strong, heavy guy that fights hard all of the 25 minutes,” Usman said. “So I'm excited to put that to the test and see really how well I do here.”
