Dricus du Plessis

Background Du Plessis is an Afrikaner, and was born in Welkom, South Africa. Du Plessis began training in judo at the age of five, followed by wrestling at twelve, then kickboxing at fourteen. Along with martial arts, du Plessis also played rugby throughout his schooling years, and has since been a vocal supporter of the Springboks, South Africa's national rugby team. He attended the University of Pretoria, where he studied agricultural economics but dropped out during the final year in order to pursue a career in mixed martial arts.

Mixed martial arts career Extreme Fighting Championship Du Plessis had three amateur bouts before he made his professional debut in 2013,

In June 2015, du Plessis made his welterweight debut at EFC Africa 40 against Dino Bagattin, winning via a second-round rear-naked choke submission. After going 3–0 in 2015, du Plessis faced veteran striker Martin van Staden at EFC 50 for the vacant EFC Welterweight Championship. Du Plessis won via guillotine choke submission in the third round. Du Plessis was later set to defend his title against one of its former holders, Henry Fadipe. However, the bout was cancelled when Fadipe encountered issues with his visa.

Du Plessis returned to EFC in 2017, defeating Brazilian Mauricio Da Rocha Jr. in a welterweight contest before facing Yannick Bahati at EFC Africa 62 for the Middleweight Championship. Du Plessis won by guillotine choke at 1:30 of the first round, becoming a two-division champion within the promotion.

Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki In 2018, du Plessis was slated to challenge Roberto Soldić for the KSW Welterweight Championship at KSW 43: Soldić vs. Du Plessis on 14 April. In an upset, du Plessis dethroned Soldic via TKO, after dropping him with a left hook. The two would later rematch at KSW 45: De Fries vs. Bedorf in October of that year, with du Plessis losing via third-round knockout.

Du Plessis fought again for KSW at KSW 50 against Joilton Santos, winning via TKO.

Return to EFC After Brendan Lesar upset veteran Garreth McLellan for the EFC Interim Middleweight Championship at EFC Africa 80, du Plessis was next set to face Lesar for the title at EFC Africa 83. Du Plessis won via first-round guillotine choke submission.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Du Plessis made his promotional debut against Markus Perez on 11 October 2020 at UFC Fight Night 179. He won the fight via knockout in round one.

Du Plessis was scheduled to face Trevin Giles on 20 March 2021 at UFC on ESPN 21. However, du Plessis pulled out due to visa issues which restricted his travel and was replaced by Roman Dolidze. The bout with Giles was rescheduled for 10 July 2021 on UFC 264. Du Plessis won the fight via knockout in round two. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Du Plessis was scheduled to face Chris Curtis on 9 April 2022 at UFC 273. However, Curtis withdrew due to a wrist injury and was replaced by Anthony Hernandez. The bouts were yet again shuffled after Nassourdine Imavov withdrew due to visa issues, with du Plessis now facing Kelvin Gastelum. However, Gastelum withdrew a week before the event due to an undisclosed injury and his bout with du Plessis was cancelled.

Du Plessis then faced Brad Tavares at UFC 276 on 2 July 2022. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Du Plessis faced Darren Till at UFC 282 on 10 December 2022. He won the fight via submission in round three. This fight earned him his first Fight of the Night award.

Du Plessis faced Derek Brunson on 4 March 2023, at UFC 285. He won the fight via technical knockout due to a corner stoppage at 4:59 of the second round.

Du Plessis faced former UFC Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in a title eliminator fight on 8 July 2023, at UFC 290. He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award and the number one contender spot in the middleweight division.

Following his defeat of Whittaker, it was expected that du Plessis would face Israel Adesanya for the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 293. However, du Plessis decided not to fight due to a leg injury, and was replaced by Sean Strickland.

UFC Middleweight Champion Du Plessis faced Sean Strickland for the UFC Middleweight Championship on 20 January 2024, at UFC 297. The pair were in attendance at UFC 296 on 16 December 2023, seated within two rows of each-other by Dana White's arrangement. While exchanging words, Strickland gestured for audience members to move and attacked du Plessis. The brawl was quickly broken up and Strickland was escorted out of the event. At UFC 297, du Plessis won the bout by split decision, becoming the first UFC champion from South Africa. 13 out of 24 media outlets scored the bout for du Plessis. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night bonus.

Du Plessis made his first title defence against former two-time UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya on 18 August 2024 at UFC 305. He won the fight via a face crank submission in the fourth round, Adesanya's first career submission loss.

Du Plessis made his second title defence in a rematch against former champion Sean Strickland on 9 February 2025 at UFC 312. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Du Plessis made his third title defence against undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev on 16 August 2025 at UFC 319. He lost the title via unanimous decision.

Post championship Du Plessis faced former UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman on 18 July 2026 in the main event at UFC Fight Night 281. He won the fight by unanimous decision. This fight earned him a $100,000 Fight of the Night award.

Fighting style Du Plessis operates primarily from an orthodox stance, utilizing constant forward pressure and a high volume of strikes to the head, body, and legs. Despite analysts describing his striking and takedowns as unorthodox, du Plessis has defended his style as prioritizing effectiveness over traditional technique.

In the buildup to his fights, du Plessis frequently utilizes trash talk. His press conference exchanges have led to heated confrontations, including a physical altercation in the crowd with Strickland prior to their bout at UFC 297, and a tense face-off with Israel Adesanya at UFC 290.

Personal life Du Plessis is bilingual; he speaks English and Afrikaans. In 2024, it was revealed that Visser would use a taser on du Plessis and other fighters' feet as a training method, using the electric shock as punishment for underperformance in the gym.

In February 2025, du Plessis stated at a press conference that the re-election of Donald Trump in the United States was "incredible", calling him "an amazing president". Du Plessis additionally lauded "fellow South African Elon Musk for also doing the right thing".

Du Plessis proposed to his fiancée Vasti Spiller on 14 January 2025, his 31st birthday.

Championships and accomplishments Kickboxing World Association of Kickboxing Organizations 2012 Junior World Championships - Gold 1st place, -86 kg (K-1 rules) Two successful title defences First South African fighter to win a UFC championship Fight of the Night (Three times) Holds wins over four former UFC champions — UFC Honors Awards 2024: Fan's Choice Submission of the Year Nominee UFC.com Awards 2023: Ranked #9 Upset of the Year 2024: Ranked #5 Fighter of the Year, Ranked #4 Submission of the Year vs. Israel Adesanya & Ranked #10 Fight of the Year vs. Israel Adesanya

Extreme Fighting Championship EFC Middleweight Champion (One time; former) One title defence EFC Welterweight Champion (One time; former) One title defence Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki KSW Welterweight Champion (One time; former) Fight of the Night (One time) Performance of the Night (One time) World MMA Awards 2024 International Fighter of the Year Combat Press 2023 Breakout Fighter of the Year ESPN 2024 Submission of the Year MMA Fighting 2023 Second Team MMA All-Star 2024 First Team MMA All-Star MMA Mania 2024 #3 Ranked Fighter of the Year Sportsnaut 2023 UFC Breakout Fighter of the Year

Mixed martial arts record Win

Kamaru Usman Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: du Plessis vs. Usman

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Khamzat Chimaev Decision (unanimous) UFC 319

Chicago, Illinois, United States Win

Sean Strickland Decision (unanimous) UFC 312

Sydney, Australia Win

Israel Adesanya Submission (face crank) UFC 305

Perth, Australia Win

Sean Strickland Decision (split) UFC 297

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Win

Robert Whittaker TKO (punches) UFC 290

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Derek Brunson TKO (corner stoppage) UFC 285

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Darren Till Submission (face crank) UFC 282

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Brad Tavares Decision (unanimous) UFC 276

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Trevin Giles KO (punches) UFC 264

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Markus Perez KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Brendan Lesar Submission (guillotine choke) EFC Worldwide 83

Pretoria, South Africa Win

Joilton Santos TKO (punches) KSW 50

London, England Loss

Roberto Soldić KO (punches) KSW 45

London, England Win

Roberto Soldić TKO (punches) KSW 43

Wrocław, Poland Win

Yannick Bahati Submission (guillotine choke) EFC Worldwide 62

Johannesburg, South Africa Win

José Maurício da Rocha Jr. TKO (punches) EFC Worldwide 59

Johannesburg, South Africa | Win

Rafał Haratyk Submission (guillotine choke) EFC Worldwide 56

Brakpan, South Africa Win

Martin van Staden Submission (guillotine choke) EFC Worldwide 50

Sun City, South Africa Win

Bruno Mukulu Submission (rear-naked choke) EFC Worldwide 46

Brakpan, South Africa Win

Dino Bagattin Submission (rear-naked choke) EFC Worldwide 40

Brakpan, South Africa Win

Darren Daniel Submission (rear-naked choke) EFC Africa 37

Brakpan, South Africa Loss

Garreth McLellan Submission (guillotine choke) EFC Africa 33

Durban, South Africa Win

Donavin Hawkey TKO (punches) EFC Africa 27

Brakpan, South Africa Win

JC Lamprecht Submission (rear-naked choke) EFC Africa 24

Brakpan, South Africa Win

Bruno Mukulu Submission (rear-naked choke) EFC Africa 23

Brakpan, South Africa Win

Tshikangu Makuebo TKO (knee injury) EFC Africa 21

Brakpan, South Africa

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