The African King Slayer: How Dricus du Plessis Conquered the Continent's MMA Throne



At UFC Oklahoma City  Dricus du Plessis didn't just return to the win column; he cemented his legacy as the continent's ultimate MMA kings by dismantling former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, adding another Nigerian legend to a hit list that already included Israel Adesanya. And in a defiant, beer-fueled celebration, he set his sights on the last remaining member of the original "African Kings" trilogy: Cameroonian powerhouse Francis Ngannou.



The feud with the former African Champions started years ago when du Plessis sparked a firestorm by questioning the authenticity of Africa's UFC champions. While Nigerian stars like Adesanya, Usman, and Cameroonian Ngannou had ascended to the top of the UFC, du Plessis argued a crucial distinction: he was the only one who still lived, trained, and bled on African soil. He questioned whether Israel Adesanya, Francis Ngannou, and Kamaru Usman would be "true African champions," as they reside and train outside the continent, while he still lives in South Africa.




At UFC Oklahoma City, du Plessis faced "The Nigerian Nightmare" in a five-round main event. The result was a masterclass in evolution. "Stillknocks" used his awkward but devastating style to control the former 170-pound kingpin, earning a unanimous decision victory with scores of 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46.

The fight showcased a new level of maturity. While du Plessis rocked Usman several times with a leg kicks to the head and heavy hands, he displayed patience rather than recklessness. 

"The big thing was obviously, I could have gone for that finish, but the big thing about that was to go improve," du Plessis stated. "'Stillknocks' 2.0 is here. Part of that was showing the composure, not just going crazy."

Even his former rival, Israel Adesanya, conceded, "It's the best I've seen Dricus look."



A Callout for the Crown

Having disposed of Adesanya via submission at UFC 305 and now Usman, du Plessis has symbolically cleared the Nigerian path to the throne. However, one piece of the puzzle remains. Following his victory, du Plessis recreated Nate Diaz's iconic callout, hurling a challenge at Francis Ngannou.

"Francis Ngannou, you're taking everything I worked for, motherf*er. I wanna fight your a," du Plessis shouted during a post-fight party video.



This callout is the natural conclusion to a story arc years in the making. Ngannou represents the final frontier—the last of the "Three African Kings." With Ngannou now fighting outside the UFC, the bout seems like a pipe dream, but du Plessis has made it clear: he is the true champion of Africa, and he is willing to fight anyone to prove it.