UFC Fight Night 281 pre-event facts: Can Dricus Du Plessis stop takedowns?

The aftermath of UFC 329 sees the octagon travel to Oklahoma City, OK., on Saturday for UFC Fight Night 281 at Paycom Center (Paramount+).

Two former champions meet in the main event of the card. Dricus Du Plessis (23-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) looks to rebound from losing middleweight gold to Khamzat Chimaev in August when he takes on former welterweight king Kamaru Usman (21-4 MMA, 16-3 UFC), who makes his second venue to 185 pounds in hopes of two-division glory.

For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie's UFC Fight Night 281 pre-event facts.

Dricus Du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman

Dricus Du Plessis

Du Plessis is one of 15 undisputed middleweight champions in UFC history.

Du Plessis is the only South African champion in UFC history.

Du Plessis is one of five fighters in UFC history to force a title change by split decision. Alexandre Pantoja, Robbie Lawler, Henry Cejudo and Carla Esparza also accomplished the feat.

Du Plessis' nine-fight UFC winning streak at middleweight, ended at UFC 319, is tied with Chris Weidman for the third-longest streak in divisional history behind Anderson Silva (13) and Israel Adesanya (12).

Du Plessis has earned 20 of his 23 career victories by stoppage. He's finished eight of those wins in Round 1.

Kamaru Usman

Usman returns to the middleweight division for the second time in UFC career. He's 0-1 in the weight class.

Usman is one of two fighters in UFC history to start 15-0 with the promotion. A. Silva also accomplished the feat.

Usman's 15-fight UFC winning streak, ended at UFC 278, is the third-longest in company history behind Anderson Silva (16) and Islam Makhachev (16).

Usman's 16 victories in UFC welterweight competition are tied for fifth-most in divisional history behind Neil Magny (24), Georges St-Pierre (19), Matt Hughes (17) and Matt Brown (17).

Usman has defended 97.3 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC welterweight competition, the highest rate in divisional history.

Usman's 12 takedowns landed at The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale are tied for second-most in a single UFC welterweight fight. Luigi Fioravanti holds the record with 13 at UFC 82.

Jared Cannonier vs. Christian Leroy Duncan

Jared Cannonier (18-9 MMA, 11-9 UFC) is 8-5 since he dropped to the UFC middleweight division in November 2018.

Cannonier is one of 20 fighters in UFC history to win fights in three weight classes. He’s been victorious at middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight.

Cannonier is one of four fighters in UFC history to earn knockout victories in three weight classes. Max Holloway, Robert Whittaker and Conor McGregor also accomplished the feat.

Cannonier's 241 significant strikes landed at UFC on ESPN 47 are the single-fight record for a UFC middleweight bout.

Cannonier and Marvin Vettori combined for 394 significant strikes landed at UFC on ESPN 47, the single-fight record for a UFC middleweight bout.

Christian Leroy Duncan's (14-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak at middleweight is tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the division behind Nassourdine Imavov (five), Nursulton Ruziboev (five) and Ateba Gautier (five).

Chase Hooper vs. Mitch Ramirez

Chase Hooper (16-5-1 MMA, 8-5 UFC) is 5-2 since he moved up to the lightweight division in May 2023.

Alden Coria vs. Stewart Nicoll

Stewart Nicoll (8-3 MMA, 0-3 UFC) has suffered three consecutive losses after starting his career 8-0.

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Fight Night 281 pre-event facts: Can Dricus Du Plessis stop takedowns?