Francis Ngannou targeted by Dricus du Plessis in viral post-fight callout

Francis Ngannou is back in the crosshairs of UFC middleweight contender Dricus du Plessis after the Pretoria Hammer turned the former heavyweight champ into a post-fight punchline on Sunday morning.

On 19 July 2026, du Plessis dismantled Kamaru Usman over five rounds in the UFC Oklahoma City main event, earning a statement victory that puts him in line for another shot at the 185lb strap. Hours later, a clip from his post-fight party went viral when du Plessis, holding a beer and a coffee martini, aped Nate Diaz’s infamous callout of Conor McGregor: but aimed it straight at Ngannou.

What happened in Oklahoma City?

Dricus du Plessis, 31, made his long-awaited return to the cage after 11 months in the wilderness, following his shock loss to Khamzat Chimaev last August. The former middleweight champion controlled every minute against Usman, 35, landing 47 significant strikes to just 12 for the American. The judges scored it 50-45 across the board, a decisive verdict that silenced any doubts about du Plessis’s elite status.

Why did Dricus du Plessis call out Francis Ngannou?

The callout wasn’t random. Du Plessis has made no secret of his desire to chase the middleweight title next, but his path is tangled with Ngannou’s shadow. The Cameroonian heavyweight legend left the UFC in January 2024 as champion, and du Plessis has repeatedly framed himself as the heir to Ngannou’s knockout power. In the viral clip, du Plessis slurred his message through a grin: “Francis Ngannou, you’re taking everything I worked for, motherf-er. I wanna fight your a-.”

The video, posted by content creator Jackson O’Doherty to his 2.1 million Instagram followers, exploded online within hours. It’s since been clipped and shared across platforms, turning a private moment into a public taunt that instantly reframed du Plessis’s ambitions.

What’s next for Francis Ngannou and Dricus du Plessis?

Ngannou, now a free agent, remains one of the most marketable stars in combat sports. He’s yet to sign with any promotion, but rumors persist about a potential return to the UFC or a move to PFL. His next move could dictate whether du Plessis’s callout gains real traction: or fades as empty talk.

For du Plessis, the path to gold is clearer. He told Sean Strickland during a post-fight interview that the current champion should face Nassourdine Imavov in December before du Plessis himself steps in early 2027. “After that, I will come and take my belt back,” he said. “Thank you.”

With two wins over Strickland already on his ledger, du Plessis is closer than ever to a shot at MMA’s most coveted prize. But first, he’ll have to answer for that beer-fueled callout: and whether Ngannou is ready to step back into the cage for one last dance.