Key Takeaways
- UFC Oklahoma City (Paycom Center) features a highly anticipated middleweight main event: former champion Dricus du Plessis vs. former UFC welterweight king Kamaru Usman.
- A late‑added featherweight bout between undefeated prospects Damien Anderson (5‑0) and Ezra Elliott (7‑0) will appear on the undercard, both fighters having finished every opponent via stoppage.
- Anderson, a 29‑year‑old Texan with a strong grappling pedigree (including a UFC Fight Pass Invitational appearance), most recently submitted Hondo Gutierrez with a kneebar at CFFC 150.
- Elliott, a 26‑year‑old Arizonan who trains at MMA Lab, has also recorded stoppage victories, his latest coming over Ashtin Canigla at RUF 68 in May.
- The co‑main event pits veteran middleweight Jared Cannonier against rising British talent Christian Leroy Duncan, adding depth to an already stacked card.
- The event underscores the UFC’s strategy of mixing established stars with promising prospects to deliver both headline appeal and future‑star development.
UFC Oklahoma City is set to take place this Saturday at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, and the promotion has just finalized an intriguing addition to the fight card. While the main event already promised fireworks—a middleweight clash between former UFC champion Dricus du Plessis and former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman—the UFC confirmed on Tuesday that a featherweight contest between two undefeated prospects will join the undercard. The bout, first reported by MMA journalist Marcel Dorff, will see Damien Anderson square off against Ezra Elliott.
Damien Anderson, 29, hails from Texas and has compiled a perfect 5‑0 professional record, with every victory coming by way of stoppage. Much of his early career was spent competing under the Fury FC banner, where he honed a well‑rounded skill set that blends striking with a formidable grappling background. Anderson’s grappling credentials extend beyond the cage; he participated in a UFC Fight Pass Invitational event in 2024, showcasing his ability to compete against high‑level submission specialists. His most recent outing came at CFFC 150, where he locked in a kneebar to submit Hondo Gutierrez, further underscoring his propensity for finishing fights on the ground.
Across the cage, Ezra Elliott brings a similarly impeccable record of 7‑0, also earning all of his wins via stoppage. The 26‑year‑old Arizona native trains at the renowned MMA Lab, a facility known for producing technically sound and athletically gifted fighters. Elliott’s striking has been particularly effective; his latest triumph came at RUF 68 in May, where he dispatched Ashtin Canigla with a decisive finish. Like Anderson, Elliott has yet to see a decision, making this featherweight matchup a compelling clash of two finishers who both look to impose their will early and often.
Beyond the prospect bout, the card boasts a stacked middleweight co‑main event that pits seasoned veteran Jared Cannonier against the rising British star Christian Leroy Duncan. Cannonier, a former title challenger with knockout power in both hands, looks to reassert himself in the division’s upper echelon, while Duncan aims to continue his upward trajectory with a signature win over a established name. This fight adds another layer of intrigue for fans who appreciate both experience and emerging talent.
The overall fight card for UFC Oklahoma City reflects the promotion’s dual focus on delivering immediate excitement and cultivating the next generation of stars. The main event pits two former champions with contrasting styles—du Plessis’s dynamic, unorthodox striking and Usman’s relentless pressure and wrestling—against each other, promising a battle that could reshape the middleweight landscape. Simultaneously, the Anderson‑Elliott featherweight encounter offers a glimpse into the future, with both athletes eager to prove they belong among the UFC’s elite by continuing their perfect records and showcasing their finishing ability.
In sum, UFC Oklahoma City presents a well‑balanced slate: a headline bout that could shift title contenders, a co‑main event that tests a veteran against a hungry newcomer, and an undercard addition that highlights two promising prospects who have yet to taste defeat. Fans can expect a night of high‑impact action, technical grappling exchanges, and the kind of storytelling that makes MMA compelling—established legends chasing redemption, and hungry prospects seeking to make their mark. As the event approaches, anticipation builds around how these matchups will unfold and what implications they might hold for the respective divisions moving forward.