UFC returns to Oklahoma City this weekend. Here's what to know

[ASFN Admin]

Good things come to those who wait, and for Oklahoma City UFC fans, the wait is almost over.

It's been almost a decade since OKC last hosted a UFC Fight night. The competition was supposed to return in 2020, ultimately being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is happening this time.

On Saturday evening, Paycom Center will turn into the stage for second-ranked Dricus du Plessis and ninth-ranked Kamaru Usman to take on the octagon. Earlier in the day, other main card fights and preliminaries will take place.

Tickets for the clash are still available on Ticketmaster, starting at $123.70 for higher seating.

Here's what to know about UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City, including card information, tickets and streaming.

Oklahoma City UFC Fight Night card​

Here are the 11 fights taking place at Paycom Center on July 18. The Main Event, expected to start at 7 p.m.

Main Card​

• #2 Dricus du Plessis vs. #9 Kamaru Usman: Middleweight Bout
• #11 Jared Cannonier vs. #13 Christian Leroy Duncan: Middleweight Bout
• Tommy McMillen vs. Alberto Montes: Featherweight Bout
• Chase Hooper vs. Mitch Ramirez: Lightweight Bout

Prelims​

• Austin Bashi vs. Jose Miguel Delgado: Featherweight Bout
• Jean Paul Lebosnoyani vs. Seokhyeon Ko: Welterweight Bout
• #8 Tabatha Ricci vs. #11 Fatima Kline: Women's Strawweight Bout
• Levi Rodrigues Jr. vs. Felipe Franco: Light Heavyweight Bout
• Alden Coria vs. Stewart Nicholl: Flyweight Bout
• Allen Frye Jr. vs. Alvin Hines: Heavyweight Bout
• Veronica Hardy vs. Dione Barbosa: Women's Flyweight Bout

Oklahoma City UFC Fight Night odds​

Odds courtesy of UFC on Friday, July 10

Dricus Du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman​

• Dricus Du Plessis (-360)
• Kamaru Usman (+280)

Jared Canonnier vs. Christian Leroy Duncan​

• Christian Leroy Duncan (-310)
• Jared Cannonier (+250)

Chase Hooper vs. Mitch Ramirez​

• Chase Hooper (-305)
• Mitch Ramirez (+245)

Tommy McMillen vs. Alberto Montes​

• Alberto Montes (-120)
• Tommy McMillen (+100)

How to buy UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman tickets​

UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman tickets can be found on Ticketmaster starting at $123.70 for upper sections.

VIP tickets, closer to the ring, can cost over $2,000, while non-VIP tickets around the same area are cheaper, but still around $1,000.

When was the last UFC fight in Oklahoma?​

The last fight in Oklahoma City was a UFC Fight Night in 2017 between Kevin Lee and Michael Chiesa.

In 2009, OKC hosted UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Guillard at the Cox Convention Center.

Tulsa has also hosted a pair of UFC events, including UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. dos Anjos at the BOK Center in 2014 and UFC 4: Revenge of the Warriors in 1994.

There were plans for a fight in Oklahoma City in 2020, but it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is UFC?​

UFC stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship and is considered the premier mixed martial arts organization.

In UFC fights, two athletes compete inside an eight-sided fenced cage, called the Octagon, for three (non-title fights) or five five-minute rounds. Judges score on a 10-point system based on effective striking, grappling, aggression and Octagon control.

A fight can end in several ways: a knockout, a technical knockout, submission (when a fighter taps out or is locked into a painful position), or Judges' Decision.

Restrictions include strikes to the back of the head, eye-gouging and the groin.

Where to watch UFC?​

UFC is streamed exclusively on Paramount+. Select events are also broadcast on ESPN.

Isa Almeida is a trending reporter for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Isa? She can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @ialmeidasports. Support Isa's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: UFC returns to Oklahoma City this weekend. Here's what to know

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