*Dricus Du Plessis lands a powerful right hand on Sean Strickland. Credit: MMA Mania.*

The UFC heads to the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with a stacked Fight Night card. The entire card has been filled with outstanding matchups, rising prospects, and established veterans looking to put on a show this Saturday night. In the co-main event, perennial Middleweight contender Jared Cannonier faces off with red-hot kickboxer Christian Leroy Duncan. In the main event, two former UFC champions will go toe-to-toe when Dricus Du Plessis takes on Kamaru Usman. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Tommy McMillen vs. Alberto Montes

*Tommy McMillen blasts Manolo Zecchini with a vicious knee. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Featherweight Bout

Tommy McMillen: 10-0-0, 4 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Alberto Montes: 12-1-0, 1 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

McMillen is undefeated and has a UFC victory over Manolo Zecchini (11-5-0). He’s a dangerous submission ace who loves to brawl. He’s a lengthy striker but will regularly look to close the distance, dipping his head before firing looping shots and lunging straights. McMillen is willing to eat a shot to land one and heats up as the fight continues, letting his hands go more often and taking more risks. Training at Red Hawk Academy, he’s a relentless grappler who will regularly look to clinch up and bring the fight to the mat. He has excellent scrambles and reversals to secure top position, where he’ll immediately pursue submissions, typically chokes. McMillen pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell, having left the first round only once in his career, and can secure chokes very quickly, even while standing.

*Alberto Montes cracks Ricky Turcios with a stiff right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.*

Montes has won four of his last five fights and has a UFC win over Ricky Turcios (13-6-0). He’s a well-rounded, technical fighter with black belts in BJJ and Taekwondo. He has very clean striking, regularly firing tight, straight shots and throwing everything in combination. Montes will regularly mix kicks into his punch combinations and can occasionally get flashy, throwing jumping kicks and spinning attacks. Training at the Goat Shed, he has great scrambles and typically finds himself in top position on the mat. He will immediately look to secure chokes when the fight goes to the ground, especially anaconda and d’arce chokes, and can lock them up with impressive speed. Montes has not gone to a decision since returning to MMA in 2021 after a four-year layoff and has won four straight fights via submission.

#7 Tabatha Ricci vs. #14 Fatima Kline

*Tabatha Ricci lands a thudding kick to the body on Tecia Pennington. Credit: MMA Junkie.*

Women’s Strawweight Bout

Tabatha Ricci: 12-4-0, 2 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Fatima Kline: 9-1-0, 4 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Ricci has won three of her last five bouts, with UFC victories over #4-ranked Strawweight Gillian Robertson (17-8-0), Amanda Ribas (12-7-0), and Angela Hill (19-16-0). She’s a speedy, versatile scrapper with top-notch grappling skills. She’s in perpetual motion on her feet, never staying in one spot for long and constantly peppering her opponents with shots. Ricci throws everything in combination, has great distance management and head movement, and regularly mixes kicks into combinations, particularly to the legs. She holds black belts in BJJ and Judo and has excellent takedowns, averaging over two landed per 15 minutes. Training at Paragon BJJ, she’s always active in top position, constantly working to improve position and do damage. Ricci has landed at least one takedown in all her UFC victories and always looks to take the fight to the mat.

*Fatima Kline lands a brutal kick to the head of Melissa Martinez. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Kline has won four of her last five outings and has UFC victories over Angela Hill (19-16-0), Melissa Martinez (8-2-0), and Viktoria Dudakova (9-2-0). She’s an efficient, accurate striker who’s just as dangerous on the mat as on her feet. She has great footwork and distance management, always circling and keeping her opponents on the end of her punches and kicks. She has very sharp hands, regularly extends long combinations, and effectively mixes heavy kicks to the body and head with her punches. She holds a black belt in BJJ and averages over two takedowns per fifteen minutes, typically securing them quickly and immediately going to work from top position. Training at MK Muay Thai, she will immediately pursue a finish on the ground, constantly improving her position so she can posture up or grab a submission. Kline has solid cardio and can maintain a heavy pace across three rounds without slowing or losing her power.

Chase Hooper vs. Mitch Ramirez

*Chase Hooper locks in an armbar on Clay Guida. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Lightweight Bout

Chase Hooper: 16-5-1, 4 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Mitch Ramirez: 8-3-0, 5 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Hooper has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Jim Miller (39-19-0), Jordan Leavitt (13-4-0), and Clay Guida (38-22-0). He’s an outstanding grappler with efficient wrestling and dangerous BJJ skills. He’s averaging over two takedowns per fifteen minutes and is relentless, repeatedly shooting to bring the fight to the mat. Hooper has excellent timing on his takedowns and smothering top pressure, rarely allowing opponents to return to their feet. He’s averaging over two submissions attempted per fifteen minutes and constantly pursues a variety of submissions, both from his back and on top. Training at Combat Sport and Fitness, he uses his length well when striking, constantly firing straight punches and front kicks. Hooper entered the UFC at 19 and is constantly improving every time he’s in the Octagon.

*Mitch Ramirez fires a heavy left hook at Thiago Moisés. Credit: MMA Junkie.*

Ramirez has won two of his last five bouts and is seeking his first UFC victory. He’s a hard-charging brawler with serious knockout power. He’s always pressuring his opponent, typically firing leg kicks from range before closing the distance to let his hands go. Ramirez is willing to take a shot to land one and will often unload combinations of wild, looping hooks and overhands once he enters the pocket. He favors power over volume, not throwing often but making every shot count. Training at Syndicate MMA, he won’t typically look to grapple, but he has solid wrestling skills and can execute impressive slams. Ramirez has gone to just one decision in his professional career and fights with a true “kill-or-be-killed” attitude.

#11 Jared Cannonier vs. #12 Christian Leroy Duncan

*Jared Cannonier lands a cracking right hand on Gregory Rodrigues. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Middleweight Bout

Jared Cannonier: 18-9-0, 11 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Christian Leroy Duncan: 14-2-0, 10 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Cannonier has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Middleweight champion Sean Strickland (31-7-0), #9-ranked Middleweight Gregory Rodrigues (19-6-0), and Marvin Vettori (19-10-1). He’s a powerful, experienced scrapper who’s willing to throw down with anyone. He throws everything with power but won’t get wild or sloppy, remaining composed and accurate throughout. Cannonier has excellent footwork, frequently switches stances, and is a dangerous counterstriker who dips his head to slip shots before returning fire with devastating power punches. Training at the MMA LAB, Cannonier varies his targets well and constantly batters his opponents’ legs with vicious kicks. He won’t typically look to grapple, but he is a solid wrestler with strong takedowns and get-ups. Cannonier is one of just three fighters in UFC history to have knockout victories in three different weight classes and can produce a finish at any time.

*Christian Leroy Duncan blasts Andrey Pulyaev with a precise spinning elbow. Credit: MMA Mania.*

Duncan has won four of his last five fights and has UFC wins over Roman Dolidze (15-5-0), Marco Tulio (14-3-0), and Eryk Anders (18-9-0). He’s a flashy striker with one-shot knockout power and an expansive arsenal of kicks. He’s in perpetual motion, always bouncing, feinting, and staying elusive while looking for openings to do damage. Duncan is highly accurate and fluid with his striking, never telegraphing his shots and constantly mixing in spinning and jumping attacks. He’s excellent at controlling the center of the cage, forcing his opponent to the outside of the Octagon while fighting behind his jab and picking them apart with clean shots. Training at Range MMA Academy, he will occasionally shoot takedowns and advance very quickly in top position before raining down heavy ground-and-pound. Duncan is always looking to add to his resume of highlight-reel knockouts and has earned two Performance of the Night bonuses in his last three UFC appearances.

#2 Dricus Du Plessis vs. #10 (WW) Kamaru Usman

*Dricus Du Plessis lands a brutal left hook on Israel Adesanya. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Middleweight Bout

Dricus Du Plessis: 23-3-0, 9 KO/TKO, 11 Sub.

Kamaru Usman: 21-4-0, 9 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Du Plessis has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Middleweight champion Sean Strickland (31-7-0), #8-ranked Middleweight Israel Adesanya (24-6-0), and #13-ranked Light Heavyweight Robert Whittaker (28-9-0). He’s a marauding scrapper who’s always coming forward, looking to do damage. He has one-shot knockout power and can produce a finish at any time, with many of his knockouts seemingly coming from nowhere. Training with Team CIT, Du Plessis has power in both hands and will regularly blitz forward to unload heavy combinations. He throws everything with power and impressive volume, landing, on average, about 101 significant strikes in his last five wins. He frequently mixes grappling into his attacks, averaging over two takedowns per fifteen minutes. Du Plessis is as dangerous on the mat as on his feet, possessing vicious ground-and-pound and outstanding chokes.

*Kamaru Usman secures a double leg takedown on Joaquin Buckley. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Usman has won two of his last five outings and has victories over #9-ranked Welterweight Joaquin Buckley (21-8-0), Colby Covington (17-5-0), and Gilbert Burns (22-10-0). He’s a former UFC Welterweight champion and a dominant wrestler. He has outstanding timing and entries on his takedowns, and he can land them at any time from anywhere. Usman has smothering top control and pushes a relentless pace on the mat, constantly wearing down his opponents while improving his position and landing ground-and-pound. He’s an efficient, powerful striker who remains technical throughout, picking his shots and avoiding significant damage. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he has outstanding boxing and will land heavy kicks from range, typically to the body. Usman holds the UFC record for the most consecutive wins in the Welterweight division (15) and has earned six post-fight bonuses during his tenure.

Best Bets

Alberto Montes Moneyline: This is an excellent matchup between two talented Featherweight prospects. Both are dangerous on the mat and have excellent submissions, but I believe Montes is the more well-rounded fighter. McMillen is more than willing to brawl, but he doesn’t have particularly powerful or technical striking and is much more comfortable on the mat. Montes has excellent grappling, but he has also proven to have solid power in his hands and outstanding boxing skills. I expect this fight to get off to a quick start, with both fighters meeting in the middle and letting their hands go. I anticipate Montes getting the better of McMillen on the feet, landing heavy, clean shots while avoiding damage and denying any takedowns from McMillen. As the fight continues, I expect McMillen to slow and grow desperate with his takedowns, opening himself up to more damage and ultimately leading to an impressive victory for Montes.

Hooper vs. Ramirez to Not Go the Distance: This is an exciting matchup between two fighters who rarely go the distance. Both have produced plenty of finishes in their professional careers and have combined for nine knockouts and ten submission victories. Overall, in a combined 33 fights, 25 did not go the distance, and sixteen of those ended in the first round. Each fighter also has a distinct advantage over the other: Ramirez has far more punching power, while Hooper is a much more dangerous grappler. Either fighter could dominate and finish the other if they take the fight to where they’re most comfortable, and with both of them coming off knockout losses, I expect them to be desperate to do so. I expect a high pace from the opening bell, with Ramirez throwing bombs and hunting for a knockout, while Hooper looks for takedowns and submission opportunities. Ultimately, with both of these fighters taking risks and pushing the pace, I don’t think it will take long for one of them to secure a finish and end this fight before the final bell.

Du Plessis vs. Usman To Go the Distance: This is an excellent matchup between two high-level fighters that I’ve been looking forward to. Both fighters are well-rounded and dangerous anywhere the fight goes, and I expect plenty of competitive exchanges and stalemates. A win in this fight could put either of them into title contention, so I believe they’ll fight carefully and avoid major risks. Although both are capable strikers, I expect much of this fight to play out in the clinch and on the mat, where they can execute their game plans without taking serious damage. I expect a somewhat slow start at the opening bell, with each fighter finding their rhythm and distance, showing respect for the danger their opponent poses. As the fight continues, I expect the pace to increase while the fight remains competitive, with both fighters having moments and scoring points. Regardless of who emerges the victor, I’m confident this will be a closely contested fight that lasts all five rounds.

UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman Preview