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Middleweight Division

#6 PFP

Active

Title Holder

"Stillknocks"

Dricus Du Plessis

Middleweight Division

23-2-0 (W-L-D)

11

Fight Win Streak

9

Wins by Knockout

11

Wins by Submission

Dricus Du Plessis
  • Last fight

    Win
    Dricus Du Plessis
    Sean Strickland

    Du Plessis vs Strickland

    Feb. 8, 2025

athlete record

Info

Learn more about Dricus du Plessis' UFC history, fighter facts, and Q&A below.

Status
Active
Place of Birth
Welkom, South Africa
Trains at
CIT MMA
Fighting style
MMA
Age
31
Height
73.00
Weight
185.00
Octagon Debut
Oct. 10, 2020
Reach
76.00
Leg reach
43.00
  • Pro since 2013
     
  • Has won 19 of his last 20 and 11 in a row
     
  • Nine wins by KO, 11 by submission (4 guillotine, 5 RNC, 2 face crank)
     
  • Eight first-round finishes
     
  • Lost 2014 bout to UFC vet Garreth McLellan
     
  • Origin of nickname: “Given by my brother after my amateur K-1 career, where my record was 33-0 with 30 KOs.”

UFC 312 (2/8/25) Du Plessis won a five round unanimous decision over Sean Strickland to retain his UFC middleweight title

UFC 305 (8/17/24) Du Plessis submitted Israel Adesanya via rear-naked choke at 3:38 of the fourth round to retain his UFC middleweight title

UFC 297 (1/20/24) Du Plessis won a five round split decision over Sean Strickland to win the UFC middleweight title 

UFC 290 (7/8/23) Du Plessis stopped Robert Whittaker via strikes at 2:23 of the second round 

UFC 285 (3/4/23) Du Plessis defeated Derek Brunson via TKO (corner stoppage) at 4:59 of the second round 

UFC 282 (12/10/22) Du Plessis submitted Darren Till via face crank at 2:43 of the third round

UFC 276 (7/2/22) Du Plessis won a three-round unanimous decision over Brad Tavares

UFC 264 (7/10/21) Du Plessis knocked out Trevin Giles at 1:41 of the second round

UFC Fight Night (10/11/20) Du Plessis knocked out Markus Perez at 3:22 of the first round

When and why did you start training for fighting? Started Judo at the age of 5 to10, then wrestling at 12-14 years old. I always had a love for martial arts and started K-1 when I was 15. At age 18, I became the first ever South African WAKO K-1 world champion and then MMA was the next step. I started fighting because I loved it from the first day I stepped in a gym.

What professional titles have you held? WAKO Jnr World Champion, EFC Welterweight Champion, EFC Middleweight Champion, KSW Welterweight Champion, UFC Middleweight Champion

Any accomplishments in amateur combat sports? WAKO World Championship

What has been your toughest fight to date and why? Strickland, first 5 Round Fight

Who is your favorite fighter and why? Anderson Silva. His reign as middleweight champion

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I studied Agricultural Economics at the University of Pretoria but dropped out in my final year when I got my shot at my EFC title to give fighting my everything and be fully committed to become the greatest fighter the world has ever seen.

What was your job before you started fighting? Never had another job. After school, being a professional fighter has been my only job.