UFC Oklahoma City Features Dricus Du Plessis vs Kamaru Usman
Why Oklahoma City Matters After Nine Years
Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 281 brings the UFC back to the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City for the first time since 2017. The event streams on Paramount+ and is highlighted by former champions and several ranked fighters. The city’s return to the UFC schedule adds fresh momentum to the organization’s growth in new markets.
Main Card Fight Breakdown
Tommy McMillen vs. Alberto Montes
Tommy McMillen vs. Alberto Montes – UFC OKC Ceremonial weigh-ins faceoff
- Records: McMillen (10‑0 MMA, 1‑0 UFC), Montes (11‑1 MMA, 1‑0 UFC)
- Odds (as of 07.18.26): McMillen -110, Montes -110
- Junkie pick results: McMillen 6, Montes 5
Fatima Kline vs. Tabatha Ricci
Tabatha Ricci vs. Fatima Kline – UFC OKC Ceremonial weigh-ins faceoff
- Records: Kline (9‑1 MMA, 3‑1 UFC), Ricci (12‑4 MMA, 7‑4 UFC)
- Rankings: Ricci No. 10, Kline honorable mention
- Odds (as of 07.18.26): Kline -350, Ricci +280
- Junkie pick results: Kline 10, Ricci 1
Chase Hooper vs. Mitch Ramirez
Chase Hooper vs. Mitch Ramirez – UFC OKC ceremonial weigh-ins faceoff
- Records: Hooper (16‑5‑1 MMA, 8‑5 UFC), Ramirez (8‑3 MMA, 0‑2 UFC)
- Odds (as of 07.18.26): Hooper -340, Ramirez +280
- Junkie pick results: Hooper 11, Ramirez 0
Jared Cannonier vs. Christian Leroy Duncan
Jared Cannonier vs. Christian Leroy Duncan – UFC OKC ceremonial weigh-ins faceoff
- Records: Cannonier (18‑9 MMA, 11‑9 UFC), Duncan (14‑2 MMA, 7‑2 UFC)
- Rankings: Cannonier No. 14, Duncan honorable mention
- Odds (as of 07.18.26): Cannonier +260, Duncan -330
- Junkie pick results: Duncan 11, Cannonier 0
Dricus Du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman ceremonial weigh-ins faceoff – UFC OKC
- Records: Du Plessis (23‑3 MMA, 9‑1 UFC), Usman (21‑4 MMA, 16‑3 UFC)
- Rankings: Du Plessis No. 3 (middleweight), No. 10 pound‑for‑pound; Usman No. 10 (welterweight)
- Odds (as of 07.18.26): Du Plessis -260, Usman +210
- Junkie pick results: Du Plessis 7, Usman 4
Staff Picks and Reader Trends
The MMA Junkie panel leans heavily toward the top‑ranked contenders. In the main‑card votes, Du Plessis, Duncan, Hooper and Kline each collected double‑digit support, while McMillen and Montes split a tighter margin. Readers backed the main event by a wide 107‑53 margin, favoring Du Plessis.
- Danny Segura 115‑48: Du Plessis, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, Montes
- Mike Bohn 107‑56: Usman, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, Montes
- Matthew Wells 107‑56: Du Plessis, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, Montes
- Nolan King 107‑56: Du Plessis, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, Montes
- Farah Hannoun 106‑57: Usman, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, McMillen
- Simon Samano 104‑59: Du Plessis, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, McMillen
- George Garcia 102‑61: Usman, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, McMillen
- Matt Erickson 102‑61: Du Plessis, Duncan, Hooper, Ricci, McMillen
- Brian Garcia 101‑62: Du Plessis, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, Montes
- Ken Hathaway 101‑62: Du Plessis, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, McMillen
- Jero Guerra 19‑8: Usman, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, McMillen
Preliminary Card Predictions
Although prelims don’t affect the overall voting standings, staff members still offered picks. The strongest picks include Austin Bashi over Jose Delgado (10‑1) and Felipe Franco losing to Levi Rodrigues (1‑10). The only N/A result appears for Damien Anderson vs. Ezra Elliott.
- Austin Bashi vs. Jose Delgado: Bashi 10, Delgado 1
- Seokhyeon Ko vs. Jean‑Paul Lebosnoyani: Ko 9, Lebosnoyani 2
- Felipe Franco vs. Levi Rodrigues: Rodrigues 10, Franco 1
- Alden Coria vs. Stewart Nicoll: Coria 10, Nicoll 1
- R.J. Harris vs. Alvin Hines: Harris 9, Hines 2
- Dione Barbosa vs. Alice Melisano: Barbosa 9, Melisano 2
- Damien Anderson vs. Ezra Elliott: N/A
This piece originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Oklahoma City predictions: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman
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