UFC Fight Night 281 live results: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman
For the first time in eight years, the Octagon heads back to Oklahoma City for UFC Fight Night 281, taking place at the Paycom Center and airing on Paramount+.
The main event will have title contention ramifications on the line as former UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis takes on former UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman in the five-round middleweight headliner. Both men are coming in off long layoffs, as Du Plessis fights for the first time since losing the middleweight title in August, while Usman looks for his second straight win after scoring a win in his last outing in June 2025.
In the co-main event, it is a battle of ranked middleweights as Jared Cannonier takes on Christian Leroy Duncan. Also on the main card is a lightweight bout between Chase Hooper and Mitch Ramirez; a women’s strawweight fight between ranked contenders Tabatha Ricci and Fatima Kline; and a featherweight fight pitting Tommy McMillen against Alberto Montes.
PRELIMS | 5 PM ET | 2 PM PT
> Women’s Flyweights- Anna Melisano (6-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Dione Barbosa (9-4, 3-2 UFC)
Barbosa lands a body kick and forces a clinch against the fence looking to get Melisano down. Barbosa scores a takedown and lands some shots from the top. Barbosa takes the back and is working for a choke. She lets go and gets back to the top. Barbosa controlling and looking for an arm-triangle choke. She now attacks the arm as Melisano rolls. Barbosa gets the back and locks in a neck crank. She lets go to land some punches. They scramble up but Barbosa jumps on the back and locks in a rear-naked choke. It is in deep and Melisano taps! Barbosa with the dominant submission win.
Fight Result- Dione Barbosa def. Anna Melisano by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:04 of Round 1
> Heavyweights- RJ Harris (5-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Alvin Hines (7-1, 0-1 UFC)
They both land leg kicks to start. Hines lands a leg kick and Harris lands a right hand. Hines with a leg kick. Harris lands a left hook. Harris drops Hines with an uppercut and starts landing a lot of punches from the top. Harris is pouring down shots from the back and it is stopped! What a finish by Harris!
Fight Result- RJ Harris def. Alvin Hines by TKO (punches) at 1:40 of Round 1
> Flyweights- Alden Coria (12-3 1 NC, 2-0 UFC) vs. Stewart Nicoll (8-3, 0-3 UFC)
Coria is pressing forward and lands an uppercut that hurts Nicoll. Coria lands and Nicoll circles away and backs up. Coria lands a right hand. Nicoll lands a left hand. They trade and Coria lands a leg kick. Nicoll looks for a takedown as Coria grabs the neck and they go to the fence. Nicoll is able to score a takedown. They get up and separate and Coria lands a combination. Nicoll works the jab and lands a right hand. Nicoll with a spin kick to the body. Nicoll scores another takedown. They get right back up along the fence. Coria switches to the back for a moment before they break apart. Nicoll scores a late takedown. 10-9 Nicoll.
Coria lands an early groin strike and timeout is called. They return to action and Coria lands a leg kick. Nicoll lands a leg kick. Nicoll with another leg kick. Coria works the jab and Nicoll lands a calf kick. Coria lands and Nicoll circles away. Nicoll lands a few right hands and then a left hand. Coria lands a flurry of jabs against the fence followed by a head kick. Coria with a body shot. Nicoll looks for a takedown but Coria reverses it and grabs the neck for a D’Arce choke. He lets go and they scramble up. Nicoll scores a big takedown. Nicoll looks for the back. They scramble up. Coria reverses to the back. Coria drags Nicoll to the mat and has the back as he lands. Coria has the hooks on. 10-9 Coria, 19-19.
Coria working the jab to start the third. Coria lands a right hand. Coria pressing forward as he lands the jab followed by a right hand. Coria lands a left hook. Nicoll lands a right hand and scores a takedown. They end up back on the feet and Coria lands a couple of combinations. Coria works the jab as Nicoll lands. Nicoll looks for a takedown but Coria defends as he grabs the neck. Coria looks for a guillotine choke from the full mount, but Nicoll escapes. They scramble as Coria has the back and lands. Nicoll is able to get the back of Coria. Nicoll is looking for a takedown. Coria grabs the neck and drops down for a gullotine choke, but Nicoll escapes. Coria still attacking the neck on the feet. They go to the mat as Coria works the neck. They end up going the distance. 10-9 Coria, 29-28 Coria.
Fight Result- Alden Coria def. Stewart Nicoll by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
> Featherweights*- Ezra Elliott (7-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Damien Anderson (5-0, 0-0 UFC)
*Elliott missed weight by 1.5 pounds
Anderson clips Elliott with some punches as Elliott was shooting for a takedown, and continues to land as Elliott chases the takedown. Elliott gets Anderson’s back along the fence and takes it down for a moment, and keeps control as they get up. They go to the mat as Elliott has back control. They get up, but Elliott takes Anderson back down. He has Anderson’s back as they stand. Elliott continues to attack the single leg. Elliott gets it down and Anderson looks for a guillotine choke. 10-9 Elliott.
Elliott with a body kick. Anderson lands a right hand. Elliott shoots for a takedown and Anderson briefly defends, but Elliott is able to score the takedown. Elliott is looking for an arm-triangle choke but takes the back. They get to their feet and Elliott has back control. Anderson lands a back elbow. Elliott scores a takedown and gets the back. They stand, but Elliott gets it back down. They get back up, but Elliott gets it back down. Anderson attacks an arm, but Elliott escaps and looks for a D’Arce choke. He lets go and lands an elbow and some short punches. Elliott attacks the D’Arce choke again. Elliott lets go and lands an elbow. 10-9 Elliott, 20-18 Elliott.
Elliott attacking the takedown early and scores a pair and gets on top of Anderson. Anderson tries to push him off, but Elliott maintains top control. They get back to their feet, but Elliott keeps control against the fence. Elliott gets it back down, but they get right up. They go back down, and Elliott lands from the back. They stand and Elliott keeps control. Elliott gets it back down. They stand and Elliott scores another takedown. Anderson reverses to the top and lands a left hand before they go the distance. 10-9 Elliott, 30-27 Elliott.
Fight Result- Ezra Elliott def. Damien Anderson by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
> Light Heavyweights- Levi Rodrigues Jr. (5-0 1 NC, 0-0 UFC) vs. Felipe Franco (10-2, 0-1 UFC)
Franco lands a jab. Rodrigues with a right hand. Rodrigues lands a hard right hand. Franco pushes it against the fence but is just holding on. Franco then gets a takedown, but Rodrigues forces it right to the feet. They separate. Franco lands a right hand. Rodrigues lands a leg kick. Rodrigues lands a flurry and is chasing Franco around. They both swing and land. Franco shoots for a takedown against the fence and gets it. Franco lands an elbow from inside the guard. Franco looks for an arm-triangle choke. Franco lets go but gets the mount. Franco with punches and big elbows from the top. 10-9 Franco.
Franco hurts Rodrigues with a right hand. Franco shoots for a takedown against the fence. Franco gets it down and takes the mount. Franco with some elbows. Franco starts landing big punches from the top and it is stopped! Franco gets the big finish.
Fight Result- Felipe Franco def. Levi Rodrigues Jr. by TKO (punches) at 1:40 of Round 2
> Welterweights- Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani (10-2, 1-0 UFC) vs. Seokhyeon Ko (13-2, 2-0 UFC)
Ko lands a leg kick. Lebosnoyani rushes in throwing but nothing connects. Ko with a leg kick followed by a left hand. They trade leg kicks and Ko lands a right hand. They tie up and Lebosnoyani scores a takedown. They get to their feet and separate. Lebosnoyani lands an overhand right as Ko landed a jab. They trade inside the pocket. Ko working the jab. Lebosnoyani lands a high kick. Ko back working the jab. Ko looks for a takedown but Lebosnoyani looks for a guillotine choke as they go to the mat. Lebosnoyani lets go and they end up back on the feet. Ko lands a jab. They both land in close range. They swing and land late. 10-9 Ko.
They trade in close range as Lebosnoyani lands a solid combo. Ko lands a body kick then a left hand. They both land inside the pocket. Ko with a straight left hand then a jab. Lebosnoyani lands a left hand. Ko gets another takedown and Lebosnoyani attacks for a guillotine choke. They roll as Lebosnoyani keeps neck control. Ko is fine as Lebosnoyani is trying to find the choke. Ko escapes and lands from the top. They scramble to their feet. Lebosnoyani works the jab and Ko lands a left hand. Ko lands another left hand. Lebosnoyani scores a big takedown. They get to their feet and trade. 10-9 Lebosnoyani, 19-19.
They trade to start the third as Ko is landing more, but Lebosnoyani lands a right hand. Ko back working the jab to some success. Lebosnoyani rushes in throwing and lands a right hand. Ko lands a standing elbow. Ko lands a left hand as Lebosnoyani was pressing forward. Lebosnoyani lands a body kick. Lebosnoyani rushes in and they trade punches. Ko lands a right hand. Ko lands a left hand. Ko with another left hand. Ko lands to the body as he ducks under a head kick attempt from Lebosnoyani. Lebosnoyani gets a big takedown. They get right up and Lebosnoyani has the back along the fence. They break and Lebosnoyani with a quick flurry. Lebosnoyani lands to the body. Close fight. 10-9 Lebosnoyani, 29-28 Lebosnoyani.
Fight Result- Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani def. Seokhyeon Ko by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Featherweights- Austin Bashi (14-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Jose Delgado (11-2, 3-1 UFC)
Bashi lands a left hand and Delgado briefly goes down. He gets up and Bashi forces a tie up. They end up breaking apart. Bashi lands a left hand and grabs the back as they go to the fence. They separate and Bashi lands a combination. Delgado with a leg kick. Delgado lands a leg kick as Bashi stuns Delgado with a right hand. Bashi briefly gets Delgado down and has body control on the feet. Bashi with a slam takedown, but they pop right up and separate. They trade and Delgado lands a high kick. Bashi lands a right hand. Delgado drops Bashi with a right hand. Bashi shoots for a takedown and Delgado sprawls and lands. They get to their feet. Delgado lands a head kick and then a knee. Bashi hunts a takedown, but Delgado is landing. Delgado has the mount, but Bashi gives up his back. Bashi is busted open around the nose. 10-9 Delgado.
They trade leg kicks. Bashi shoots for a takedown, but Delgado defends. They trade along the fence. Delgado with a combination. They trade inside the pocket. Bashi lands a high kick. Delgado with a combo then a high kick. Delgado lands a counter right hand as Bashi was pressing forward. They go to the mat and Bashi has control. Bashi lands from the back before they stand. Delgado lands a body kick and Bashi looks for a takedown. Bashi scores a takedown and lands from the top. 10-9 Bashi, 19-19.
They clinch right up and briefly go to the mat, but separate on the feet. Delgado lands a combination. They’re both connecting as they circle around. Delgado shoots for a takedown, but Bashi defends. Bashi shoots for a takedown and pushes it against the fence. They break apart. Bashi lands a body kick. Delgado lands a body shot but stumbles. Bashi with a right hand. Bashi with a pair of left hooks. Delgado lands a right hand. Bashi grabs the neck and looks for a guillotine choke. He ends up letting go but is in the mount. Bashi is in the half-guard and lands an elbow. Bashi lands and rolls for a leg lock but time runs out. 10-9 Bashi, 29-28 Bashi.
Fight Result- Jose Delgado def. Austin Bashi by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
MAIN CARD | 8 PM ET | 5 PM PT
> Featherweights- Tommy McMillen (10-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Alberto Montes (11-1, 1-0 UFC)
> Women’s Strawweights- #7 Tabatha Ricci (12-4, 7-4 UFC) vs. #14 Fatima Kline (9-1, 3-1 UFC)
> Lightweights*-Chase Hooper (16-5-1, 8-5 UFC) vs. Mitch Ramirez (8-3, 0-2 UFC)
*Hooper missed weight by 1.5 pounds
> Middleweights- #11 Jared Cannonier (18-9, 11-9 UFC) vs. #12 Christian Leroy Duncan (14-2, 7-2 UFC)
> Middleweights- #2 Dricus Du Plessis (23-3, 9-1 UFC) vs. #10 WW Kamaru Usman (21-4, 16-3 UFC)
MMA writer & live coverage specialist, contributor to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter