Home of Fight Expert Picks: UFC Oklahoma City
The Octagon returns to the Paycom Center this Saturday for UFC Oklahoma City, delivering a five fight main card packed with action!
The marquee event features a massive middleweight clash as former champion Dricus Du Plessis welcomes former welterweight king Kamaru Usman to the new division. Du Plessis enters as a solid betting favorite, looking to rebound from his title loss, while Usman aims to prove his grappling and striking translate to a heavier weight class.
The co-main event also promises high stakes in the middleweight ranks, with veteran Jared Cannonier facing rising British prospect Christian Leroy Duncan. His youth and explosiveness make him a significant favorite against the aging Cannonier, offering a classic crossroads fight to analyze. Rounding out the streaming main card, Chase Hooper takes on Mitch Ramirez at a catchweight after missing the lightweight limit, Tabatha Ricci tests prospect Fatima Kline at strawweight, and Tommy McMillen battles Alberto Montes at featherweight. With multiple favorites heavily juiced across the board, smart bettors should look for specific prop values and early stoppage markets to maximize their returns this weekend.
Who do our experts like to get their hands raised in these matchups?
Dricus Du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman
HayJive – Dricus Du Plessis
- “I’ll take Dricus Du Plessis in the main event. Usman is nearing 40 and likely needs consistent takedowns and top control to win this fight. If he can’t establish that, I think DDP’s size, pressure, and diverse striking arsenal will take over. His blitzes, knees, elbows, kicks, and power should be enough to break Usman down and earn the victory.”
Nolan – Dricus Du Plessis
- “Dricus is going to be much bigger and has probably been drilling nothing but takedown defense since Khamzat. Usman is getting older which won’t help here.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Dricus Du Plessis
- “There will be a size advantage for DDP and that will help him with the defensive grappling. Pair that with his ability to cause damage over 5 Rounds and his age and pace, he can find a way to win.”
The Fight Analyst – Kamaru Usman
- “Everyone seems to write off Kamaru Usman now that he’s aged, but he looked good in each of his last three fights despite losses to Khamzat Chimaev and Leon Edwards. If Usman can utilize his wrestling and grappling he can neutralize Dricus Du Plessis’ striking en route to a competitive decision victory.”
Austin Swaim – Kamaru Usman
- “Dricus’ performance against Khamzat was eye-opening, and I don’t know how you go from multiple crucifixes to all-knowing in 10 months when Usman’s positional control, freestyle wrestling, and piston-like jab were made in a lab for this matchup — if his chin and/or knees aren’t totally shot at 39. I don’t think they are.”
Jared Cannonier vs. Christian Leroy Duncan
HayJive – Christian Leroy Duncan
- “I’ll take Christian Leroy Duncan. At 42 years old, it’s tough for me to back Cannonier. He’s been hurt in several of his recent fights, and I think CLD’s speed and awkward striking will create problems throughout. If he stays disciplined, he should be able to outpoint Cannonier and potentially find a finish.”
Nolan – Christian Leroy Duncan
- “Duncan is younger, more explosive, and movement should give an older Cannonier problems. I think the speed will be the difference.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Christian Leroy Duncan
- “Jared’s durability has been dwindling while CLD’s versatility and ability to contain himself will make a difference.”
The Fight Analyst – Christian Leroy Duncan
- “Christian Leroy Duncan is finally coming into his own. His aggression nature is what’s going to help him get the biggest knockout victory of his career against former title challenger Jared Cannonier. His length, speed, and athelticism will be too much for Cannonier.”
Austin Swaim – Jared Cannonier
- “Jared Cannonier is a wily veteran and a top-10 hurdle that “CLD” has yet to clear. I think the Englishman is patient to a fault and has underachieved opposite a poor level of competition. I see this as a close fight that goes to the scorecards, but Cannonier is seemingly being given no chance to win it.”
Chase Hooper vs. Mitch Ramirez
HayJive – Chase Hooper
- “I’ll take Chase Hooper, although I want no part of the betting line. Ramirez is live for an early knockout, but if this fight hits the mat, Hooper should have a significant advantage. Between his grappling and cardio, I think he finds a submission or takes over with ground control.”
Nolan – Chase Hooper
- “Everyone is turning on Hooper for his KO losses, but the grappling advantage in this matchup seems to be too much.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Chase Hooper
- “A considerable step-down in competition for Chase Hooper to find his reset. I can see him finding his grappling openings and can have some success on the feet too.”
The Fight Analyst – Chase Hooper
- “I am not really sold on Chase Hooper during this stretch, however, if he can take Mitch Ramirez down, he should be able to submit him shortly thereafter.”
Austin Swaim – Chase Hooper
- “I understand the concerns about Hooper’s chin, but that’s the only thing that would put this fight in doubt. At distance, Chase’s pace and diversity of attacks are superior. There’s no doubt who holds the grappling edge. This seems like a soft spot for the Washington native to get his UFC career back on track.”
Tabatha Ricci vs. Fatima Kline
HayJive – Fatima Kline
- “I’ll take Fatima Klein. She appears to have the edge in most areas of this matchup. Ricci is always willing to engage, but her striking hasn’t been enough against higher-level competition. I think Klein has the tools to deal with the pressure and could even find a finish.”
Nolan – Fatima Kline
- “Kline is a much bigger fighter who’s striking is getting better. But if she has success wrestling her strength will be too much for Ricci.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Fatima Kline
- “I can see a scenario where Kline simply uses her size to overwhelm Ricci and find the KO.”
The Fight Analyst – Fatime Kline
- “Fatima Kline is looking like the true contender many believed she would be outside of the UFC. Now, she takes on Tabatha Ricci, where she will look to get the biggest win of her UFC career. Her size and strength will be a factor here as she big sisters Ricci and dominates her for the decision victory.”
Austin Swaim – Fatima Kline
- “We haven’t given Tabatha Ricci the credit she deserves for overcoming her lack of size, but matchups like this are where it’s tough to see her doing so. Kline’s kicks and length at distance are a problem, and Ricci quietly hasn’t landed multiple takedowns in five of her last six. Stealing two rounds with that formula would be a stunner.”
Tommy McMillen vs. Alberto Montes
HayJive – Tommy McMillen
- “I’ll take Tommy McMillen here. He should be the much bigger fighter and has a clear cardio advantage. McMillen loves to push a relentless pace, and while his striking can be a bit sloppy, I think it’s enough to overwhelm Montes. If Montes can’t find a front choke, I’m not sure he has many paths to victory.”
Nolan – Tommy McMillen
- “Tommy has the junk yard dog style that will work well here. He’s got a good chin and wrestling to drag this to deep waters.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Alberto Montes
- “McMillen is a solid fighter, though a bit reckless, can get tagged a ton and has a ton of hype behind him while Montes is lethal, calm and composed and can find his openings almost at will.”
The Fight Analyst – Alberto Montes
- “Tommy McMillen is going to come in guns blazing in round 1, and it will be up to Alberto Montes to weather the early storm and take McMillen into deep waters. From there, McMillen is guaranteed to gas, and that’s where Montez will eventually put him away late round 2 or 3.”
Austin Swaim – Terrance McKinney
- “McMillen’s sloppy DWCS fight and official debut seem to not have resonated with the betting public the way I thought they would. He’s got a huge cardio/hardware/pace advantage in this matchup, but Montes’ power and front chokes are those tools capable of producing a fight-changing moment. This fight seems so similar to Paddy-BSD, and we saw how that one played out.”
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