The opening betting odds in a pivotal battle of former UFC champions favors one side in a big way.
During Saturday’s UFC Vegas 119 broadcast, it was officially announced that former middleweight title holder Dricus du Plessis is set to return in his first fight since losing the belt to Khamzat Chimaev, and faces past welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC Oklahoma City. The card takes place July 18 at the Paycom Center, and streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S.
According
to BetOnline, du Plessis opens as a heavy favorite at -350, with the comeback on Usman at +285.
Based on those odds, it would require a $350 wager to get back $100 on du Plessis while a $100 bet on Usman returns $285 if he’s successful as the underdog.
Du Plessis had a solid run as champion, successfully defending the title against Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya. “Stillknocks” was dominated in a lopsided decision against Chimaev at August’s UFC 319 event where he lost the belt.
Usman picked up his first win in nearly four years in his most recent fight with a dominant decision over Joaquin Buckley in the main event of UFC Atlanta in June 2025. “The Nigerian Nightmare” snapped a three-fight skid that included an all-time knockout loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 278 in August 2022, a clear-cut decision loss in the rematch seven months later, and a competitive majority decision defeat against Chimaev in a short-notice contest at middleweight in October 2023. Usman returns after another year-plus long layoff.
