Just hours before one of the most anticipated matchups at UFC Oklahoma City, Islam Makhachev has done more than simply pick a winner between Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman. The reigning champion offered a technical assessment that reaches far beyond a conventional prediction. In his view, a fight of this magnitude is not determined solely by resumes, reputations, or championship pedigree—it is ultimately decided by how well the body can withstand the demands of elite competition.
@mma.pros.pick 🚨Islam Makhachev picks Dricus Du Plessis to beat Kamaru Usman! 👀 #ufc #mma #KAMARUUSMAN #dricusduplessis #islammakhachev #ufcfightnight #ufc330
The middleweight showdown brings together two fighters standing at very different crossroads in their careers. Dricus Du Plessis enters the Octagon determined to rebuild his momentum after losing his title to Khamzat Chimaev, a defeat that abruptly ended his reign and forced him back into the role of contender. Across the cage, former welterweight king Kamaru Usman is writing a new chapter, moving up in weight in an attempt to prove that his championship legacy did not end with the loss of his belt to Leon Edwards.
Against this backdrop, Makhachev’s comments carry weight precisely because they are rooted in technical reasoning rather than emotion. According to the Dagestani champion, Du Plessis’ edge is not merely a reflection of his current form—it stems from what he believes is Usman’s greatest vulnerability. Chronic knee issues, Makhachev argues, could severely limit the former champion’s ability to rely on his trademark wrestling, the weapon that defined his dominance for years.
That observation is far more significant than it appears on the surface. It comes from a fighter whose own rise to the top has been built upon elite wrestling, positional control, and relentless grappling pressure. When Makhachev suggests that Usman may struggle to impose his wrestling, he is effectively questioning whether the former champion can still perform with the identity that made him one of the UFC’s most dominant titleholders.
If that assessment proves accurate, the tactical balance shifts decisively toward Du Plessis. The South African thrives in high-pressure contests, using relentless pace, physical strength, and constant offensive pressure to gradually overwhelm his opponents. Should Usman lose the ability to dictate where the fight takes place through takedowns and clinch control, the contest is likely to evolve into an extended striking battle—a scenario that many analysts believe favors “Stillknocks.”
The betting markets already lean toward Du Plessis, but Makhachev’s prediction stands out for a different reason. Its value lies not in choosing the favorite, but in identifying the underlying factor that could shape the outcome. As one of the sport’s premier grapplers, Makhachev understands better than most how compromised joints can dismantle an entire game plan, turning a physical limitation into a decisive tactical disadvantage.
While closely following this headline event at UFC Oklahoma City, Makhachev is simultaneously preparing for a defining challenge of his own. The Dagestani champion is set to defend his title against Ireland’s Ian Garry in the main event of UFC 330, a contest that could once again reshape the hierarchy at the top of the welterweight division.
Ultimately, Du Plessis vs. Usman is about far more than two elite names sharing the Octagon. It is a test of whether experience can overcome physical decline, and whether years of accumulated wear can erase the advantages that once made a champion untouchable. In mixed martial arts, the biggest fights are not always won by the heavier puncher or the more decorated athlete. More often, they are decided by the smallest invisible detail—the moment when the body can no longer execute what the mind still envisions. According to Islam Makhachev, that may be the decisive factor long before the opening bell even sounds.
