Dricus du Plessis Calls Out Francis Ngannou After Victory in Oklahoma City

Dricus du Plessis stunned the UFC on July 20, 2026 by downing a beer and a coffee martini at a post-fight party and shouting a challenge to former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou after his five-round decision win over Kamaru Usman in Oklahoma City.

What happened?

The former middleweight champion fought at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, beating Usman by unanimous decision after five hard-fought rounds. After the bout, content creator Jackson O’Doherty captured du Plessis and friends celebrating with drinks. The short clip, posted to Instagram, quickly amassed millions of views and was reshared across TikTok and Twitter. In the video, du Plessis mimicked Nate Diaz’s infamous call-out style, raising a beer and declaring, “Francis Ngannou, you’re taking everything I worked for, mother-f-er… I wanna fight your a-.”

Why it matters for Dricus du Plessis

The viral moment adds a fresh narrative to du Plessis’s comeback trail. After losing his belt to Khamzat Chimaev 11 months earlier, the South African fighter is back in the title conversation. By publicly targeting Ngannou, du Plessis signals his willingness to fight across weight classes, a move that could boost his marketability and bargaining power. Moreover, the video showcases his confidence and charisma-traits that promoters love when building future main events.

How the fight landscape shifts

Usman’s loss drops him further from immediate title contention, while du Plessis now sits near the top of the 185-lb division. The UFC has hinted at a potential showdown between du Plessis and Sean Strickland, who holds the belt. Du Plessis told Strickland in a post-fight interview that he respects the champion but would prefer a different opponent first, suggesting a bout with Nassourdine Imavov before a title shot. If the Ngannou challenge sticks, the promotion could craft a cross-division blockbuster, pairing a former heavyweight champion with a rising middleweight star.

What comes next?

Du Plessis said he will “wait for a title shot” after sobering up, but his public call-out hints at a possible heavyweight-light-middleweight clash. The UFC’s next event in November could feature a fight-night showdown between du Plessis and Imavov, setting up a title defense for Strickland in December. Meanwhile, Ngannou’s camp has not responded, leaving fans to wonder whether the two will meet in the Octagon. Regardless, du Plessis’s viral moment has already amplified his profile and kept the conversation alive across social media and mainstream MMA outlets.

How fans can follow the story

The Instagram clip remains the most-shared piece of content, with over 2 million followers watching the party footage. UFC’s official channels have highlighted the moment in their “Fight Night Highlights” series, and sports blogs are speculating on the financial implications of a du Plessis-Ngannou bout. Keep an eye on upcoming press conferences and the UFC’s fight-booking announcements for any official confirmation.

Dricus du Plessis continues to prove that his confidence extends beyond the cage, turning a simple post-fight celebration into a headline-grabbing challenge that could reshape the UFC’s matchmaking landscape.