Drikus Du Plessis - Kamaru Usman: betting tip (cf 2.97) and bets on the fight

Current form 

For Drikus Du Plessis, this fight becomes an opportunity to reassert himself after a painful setback. Almost a year ago, the South African lost to Khamzat Chimaev in a title fight, suffering his first defeat in the UFC. Up to this point, he had not lost since 2018, when Roberto Soldich managed to knock him out at the KSW tournament. Over the years of playing in the strongest league in the world, Du Plessis has managed to gain a foothold among the best representatives of the middleweight division and proved that he is able to impose his pace on almost any opponent.

The main feature of his style is constant pressure. He does not allow his opponents to feel comfortable, actively works in a stand position, is not afraid of exchanges and turns the fight into a fight at the first opportunity. Due to his versatility, the South African has repeatedly ended fights ahead of schedule with both punches and techniques.

Du Plessis ranks second in the UFC mid-division rankings. The 32-fighter has 22 wins and three losses. He won nine times by knockouts, ten by receptions, and three more times by judicial decision. In addition to performing in the UFC, Drikus became the champion of EFC organizations in two weight categories at once, and also held the KSW welterweight title. In addition, he became the first South African to win the UFC championship belt.

Bookmakers consider him a favorite not only because of the achievements of recent years, but also because of the age of the opponent. Nevertheless, it would be a serious mistake to write off Usman. Moreover, the lack of a heavy weight race before the debut in the new division can be one of the main advantages of the Nigerian.

Current form

Kamaru Usman was forced to talk about himself again after his confident victory over Joaquin Buckley a year ago. Then the former champion showed that even at a respectable age by the standards of MMA, he is able to fight at a very high level. He is already 39 years old, but his physical fitness and rich experience allow him to remain competitive even against the UFC elite.

Moving up to middleweight looks like a logical continuation of his career. Usman will no longer have to exhaust the body with a hard weight loss, and this can have a positive effect on functional readiness. At the same time, his best qualities have not disappeared. First of all, it's about great fighting, clinch control, and the ability to impose an uncomfortable scenario on your opponent.

It is the wrestling arsenal that can be the key to success. In the fight against Chimaev, it was noticeable that Du Plessis was experiencing serious problems when faced with a world-class wrestler. For many years, Usman was considered one of the UFC's strongest grapplers, and his defense against transfers remains one of the best in the organization's history. If he manages to make regular takedowns and keep his opponent on the floor, the South African's advantage in striking technique may not be so significant.

Usman has 21 wins with four defeats. He finished the matches with knockouts nine times, won eleven victories on points and won only once by reception. He is a former UFC welterweight champion, winner of the 21st season of The Ultimate Fighter, and one of the most successful fighters in the division's history. Throughout his career, Usman has set a welterweight record for the longest winning streak — 15 fights, and also has an outstanding 97.3 percent takedown defense rate. In the past, he successfully competed in freestyle wrestling, became the NCAA Division II champion and represented the national team of US universities at the world level.