Usman, at his peak, was one of the greatest physical talents in UFC history. Absurdly strong with an endless gas tank, Usman ground his opposition down into dust via relentless clinch work and takedowns. Later, he added a punishing jab to his arsenal and overall sharpened up his boxing, making for a more rounded approach to MMA. Unfortunately, Usman’s limitless gas tank has declined over the years to a more human level, and moving up in weight is unlikely to help. Wrestling bigger men is exhausting, and Usman doesn’t have the same kind of submission prowess that Khamzat used to scare du Plessis into accepting bottom position.

As such, this bout will be a real test of Usman’s ability to contain du Plessis while managing his pace. Du Plessis has never been finished, so “The Nigerian Nightmare” should be planning for 25 minutes. Though wrestling will undoubtedly be part of Usman’s success, it actually comes back to the jab more than anything else. If Usman can snap du Plessis’ head back with the jab early and often, he has a much better shot at controlling — and limiting — exchanges. A stiff jab can interrupt kicks and combinations before they start. It can allow Usman to more easily feint and circle off rather than exchange at all. The jab can also set up effortless takedown entries rather than hard-earned chained takedowns that draw at the energy reserves.