​The first faceoff between Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman did not disappoint ahead of their UFC Fight Night 281 main event.After some past verbal conflicts, former champions Du Plessis (23-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) and Usman (21-4 MMA, 16-3 UFC) came face-to-face ahead of Saturday’s five-round middleweight headliner at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. (Paramount+).AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt was an intense staredown, with Du Plessis, 32, and Usman, 39, locking eyes until members of the UFC staff pulled them away and they continued the photo-op.Former 185-pound champ Du Plessis returns for the first time since his UFC 319 title loss to Khamzat Chimaev in August, while former longtime welterweight champ Usman returns from a one-year layoff and moves up to middleweight for the second time in his career.Check out the video of the Du Plessis vs. Usman faceoff above.This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC OKC video: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman first faceoff lingers