Chael Sonnen: Kamaru Usman Is a “Terrible Matchup” for Dricus du Plessis
Chael Sonnen believes Kamaru Usman has the style to upset Dricus du Plessis when they meet in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 281 middleweight main event in Oklahoma City. Du Plessis remains the betting favourite, though Usman’s price has shortened from the opening market.
Speaking in a video shared by UFC on Paramount, Sonnen made a strong case for the former welterweight champion at 185 pounds due to wrestling advantage spotted by scorefootball live. I think it’s a terrible matchup for Dricus du Plessis,” Sonnen said. “Look, Dricus didn’t just lose his last fight; he lost his last five rounds. All, by the way, to a superior wrestler.”
“Kamaru Usman is a national champion wrestler. Everybody forgets that,” Sonnen said. “He was an Olympic prospect back in 2012. Kamaru Usman definitely can win this fight.” Usman was an NCAA Division II national champion at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and competed internationally in freestyle wrestling before committing fully to MMA.
Du Plessis was beaten by Khamzat Chimaev in his last outing, losing the UFC middleweight title after five rounds. Sonnen sees that result as an important reference point for Usman, whose best route to victory is likely built around pressure wrestling, clinch work and control time rather than a striking exchange at distance. The Nigerian-American had a much better performance against Chimaev when compared to the South African athlete.
Chael Sonnen Sees Kamaru Usman Upset Path in Dricus du Plessis Fight
The market still has du Plessis as the favourite at approximately -258 to -260, while Usman is available around +214 to +225. Those numbers put the favourite near a 70 percent implied chance of victory, with Usman given roughly a 30 percent chance. Usman opened as high as +285 after du Plessis was installed around -350, so the current line gives bettors a smaller return on the challenger than the earliest available price.
There are clear reasons for the market’s position. Du Plessis is 32, has spent his UFC title run at middleweight and owns the size advantage over a 39-year-old who achieved his greatest success at 170 pounds. Usman’s only prior UFC middleweight contest ended in a decision loss to Chimaev in 2023, though he accepted that fight on short notice.
Sonnen’s argument is centered on style rather than recent results. If Usman can repeatedly bring du Plessis to the fence, win the hand-fighting exchanges and keep him working to stand, the underdog has a practical path across five rounds.
For bettors considering Usman, the appeal is not that he has become the favourite. It is that his wrestling pedigree offers a route that the current price may not fully reflect, especially against an opponent whose latest defeat came against a dominant grappler.
