Dricus Du Plessis Quick Info | |
---|---|
Height | 6 ft |
Weight | 84 kg |
Date of Birth | January 14, 1994 |
Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
Eye Color | Blue |
Dricus Du Plessis is a South African professional mixed martial artist whose professional career started in 2013. He has competed for the Polish-based promotion Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW) (where he is a former KSW Welterweight Champion), in the Middleweight division of the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) (where he is the two-time EFC Middleweight and former EFC Welterweight Champion), and in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He was ranked #1 in the UFC middleweight rankings as of July 11, 2023.
Born Name
Dricus Du Plessis
Nick Name
Stillknocks
Sun Sign
Capricorn
Born Place
Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa
Residence
Pretoria, South Africa
Nationality
Education
Dricus Du Plessis got enrolled at the University of Pretoria, a multi-campus public research university in Pretoria. There, he studied agricultural economics but dropped out during the final year in order to fully pursue a career in mixed martial arts.
Occupation
Professional Mixed Martial Artist
Division
- Middleweight (2013–2015; 2019–Present)
- Welterweight (2013–2018)
Reach
76 in (193 cm)
Stance
Orthodox
Build
Athletic
Height
6 ft or 183 cm
Weight
84 kg or 185 lbs
Race / Ethnicity
White
Dricus Du Plessis has Afrikaner roots.
Hair Color
Dark Brown
Eye Color
Blue
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
Deep-set eyes
Brand Endorsements
Dricus Du Plessis has served as an ambassador for World Sports Betting, CMTrading, and Ultimate Sports Nutrition.
Dricus Du Plessis Facts
- He spent his childhood years growing up in Pretoria, South Africa.
- He was 5 years old when he began taking judo lessons.
- Dricus Du Plessis eventually drifted to kickboxing at the age of 14 and became a WAKO World Champion in K-1 style kickboxing.
- After he realized that there were almost no chances for him to make money in kickboxing, he started focusing on mixed martial arts.
- In 2013, he made his professional debut and secured an undefeated 4–0 record before facing future UFC veteran and then-EFC Middleweight Champion Garreth McLellan at EFC Africa 33 He lost via guillotine choke submission in the 3rd round.
- Dricus Du Plessis made his Welterweight debut at EFC Africa 40 in June 2015 against Dino Bagattin, winning via a 2nd-round rear-naked choke submission.
- At EFC 50 for the vacant EFC Welterweight Championship, he competed against veteran striker Martin Van Staden and won via guillotine choke submission in the 3rd round.
- He defeated Brazilian Mauricio Da Rocha Jr. in a Welterweight contest in 2017 and then went on to face Yannick Bahati at EFC Africa 62 for the Middleweight Championship, winning by guillotine choke at 1:30 of the first round. With this, he became a two-weight class Champion in the promotion.
- On April 14, 2018, Dricus Du Plessis faced KSW Welterweight Champion Roberto Soldić for the KSW Welterweight Championship at KSW 43: Soldić vs. Du Plessis and won the fight via TKO, after dropping him with a left hook.
- For Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), he made his promotional debut on October 11, 2020, against Markus Perez at UFC Fight Night 179 and went on to win the fight via knockout in round one.
- On July 2, 2022, Dricus Du Plessis competed against professional mixed martial artist Brad Tavares at UFC 276 and was declared the winner via unanimous decision.
- At UFC 282 on December 10, 2022, he faced English professional mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai fighter Darren Till and won via submission in round three, earning him the Fight of the Night award.
- On March 4, 2023, he won the fight against Derek Brunson at UFC 285 via technical knockout due to a corner stoppage at 4:59 of the second round.
- Dricus Du Plessis won the Performance of the Night award after defeating former UFC Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in a title eliminator fight at UFC 290 via technical knockout in the second round on July 8, 2023. With this, he also achieved the number one contender spot in the Middleweight division.
Featured Image by Dricus Du Plessis / Instagram