UFC Oklahoma City Results: Du Plessis Outworks Usman, Chase Hooper Choked Him Out in 2:15

Reviewed by BJJ Gyms · Updated 2026-07-27

Du Plessis Grinds Out Usman Over Five Rounds

Dricus du Plessis did not need a highlight-reel finish to make his point at Paycom Center. Across five rounds he leaned on his size, working right hands, head kicks, and knees to keep Kamaru Usman on the back foot for most of the fight. The scorecards told the story clearly, with one judge giving Usman a single round and the other two shutting him out almost entirely.

It was the kind of performance that puts a fighter back into title conversations without ever needing a dramatic moment. Usman, a former welterweight champion moving up in weight, simply could not find the volume or the takedowns to change the read on the fight. For a card built around a grappling-heavy matchup, the final result leaned far more on du Plessis's striking and physicality than anyone's jiu-jitsu.

Chase Hooper's Choke Was the Night's Best Grappling

If you only watch one fight from this card twice, make it Hooper versus Ramirez. Hooper came in off back-to-back knockout losses needing a statement, and he got one in a hurry. He closed distance immediately, scored a takedown, and when Ramirez tried to scramble out, Hooper simply rode the transition to the back.

From there it was textbook: body triangle locked in, hands fighting for the choke, patience through the defense until the arm was under the chin. The tap came at 2:15 of round one. It is a small reminder that in a sport increasingly built around highlight knockouts, a clean submission still ends a fight just as fast, and often with a lot more control involved along the way.

This was Hooper's ninth UFC win and snapped a two-fight losing skid that had put real pressure on his roster spot.

The Rest of the Card

Christian Leroy Duncan out-worked longtime contender Jared Cannonier for a unanimous decision, using movement and timely takedowns to keep the veteran off balance. In the women's strawweight bout, Fatima Kline handled Tabatha Ricci across three rounds, winning every round on every card. Tommy McMillen closed the show with a TKO stoppage of Alberto Montes late in round three.

Between the decisions and the single finish, this was a card decided far more on cage control and cardio than on submissions, which makes Hooper's choke stand out even more as the one moment of pure jiu-jitsu on the night.

Both men in the main event walked away with Fight of the Night money, a nod to how physical the five rounds were even without a stoppage. That kind of bonus split is common when neither side lets up, and it is a fair reflection of how much work du Plessis had to put in to keep Usman from ever finding a rhythm on the feet or on the mat.

5 Grappling Lessons From Hooper's Choke

A fast finish still has plenty to teach anyone training BJJ or no-gi right now.

1. Take the Path of Least Resistance: Hooper did not force a specific submission; he took the back the moment Ramirez's scramble opened it up.
2. The Body Triangle Is a Control Tool First: Locking the triangle before hunting the choke kept Ramirez from creating enough space to escape.
3. Patience Under Pressure: Even in a fast finish, Hooper worked through hand-fighting for the choke rather than rushing and losing the position.
4. Takedowns Set Up Everything: None of it happens without the entry; a clean single or double is still the most reliable way onto the mat.
5. Confidence Under Adversity: Hooper was fighting off two straight losses. A submission specialist trusting the fundamentals under pressure is a mindset lesson as much as a technical one.

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