Dricus Du Plessis is targeting a title shot but insists it will take more than just a win when he meets Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC Fight Night 281 on Saturday in Oklahoma City.
Du Plessis believes a dominant performance over Usman could set up a crack at current champion Sean Strickland, though he is clear about the standard he’s holding himself to. "I don't believe a victory alone can be enough," Du Plessis said. "I think my resume, definitely, but I don't believe just a victory over Usman necessarily gives me a title shot, and the same for him. The performance. Going out there and putting on a performance that eliminates any doubt that I'm the best in the world, that's what's going to guarantee me a shot at that title."
Despite his own ambitions, Du Plessis said Nassourdine Imavov deserves the next title shot at Strickland, and he pushed back on the idea of an immediate rematch between Khamzat Chimaev and the champion. "There should only be one opinion," Du Plessis said, before pointing to his own history with Strickland. "Between the two of them, they have an amazing zero title defenses. So how do you warrant a rematch? In that case, I have two, so give me a rematch then. I have two wins over the current champion. It makes zero sense."
Du Plessis is a former champion at 185 pounds and has not fought since losing his belt to Chimaev in August 2025, a defeat that snapped an 11-fight winning streak spanning six years.
