Dricus du Plessis

Dricus du Plessis (born 14 January 1994) is a South African professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He previously competed in the Middleweight division of Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC), where he is the former Middleweight and Welterweight Champion. A professional since 2013, he has also competed for Polish-based promotion Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW). In addition to being a two-time EFC Middleweight and former EFC Welterweight Champion, he is also a former KSW Welterweight Champion. As of 12 September 2023, he is #2 in the UFC middleweight rankings.[4]

Dricus du Plessis
Born (1994-01-14) 14 January 1994[1]
Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa
Other namesStillknocks
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
DivisionMiddleweight (2013–2015; 2019–present)
Welterweight (2013–2018)
Reach76 in (190 cm)[2]
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofHatfield, Pretoria, South Africa
TeamTeam CIT MMA
Rank2nd degree black belt in Kickboxing[3]
Years active2013–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total22
Wins20
By knockout9
By submission10
By decision1
Losses2
By knockout1
By submission1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

Du Plessis is an Afrikaner.[5][6] He was born in Hatfield, Pretoria, and started training judo at the age of five before eventually drifting to kickboxing at 14.[7] Eventually, he became a WAKO World Champion in K-1 style kickboxing, but migrated to mixed martial arts after realizing there was no money to be made in kickboxing.[7][8] Along with martial arts, Du Plessis also played rugby throughout his schooling years[9] and has since been a vocal supporter of the South African national rugby team (Springboks).[10][11] He attended University of Pretoria, where he studied agricultural economics but dropped out during the final year to fully pursue a career in mixed martial arts.[3]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Du Plessis made his professional debut in 2013, amassing an undefeated 4–0 record before facing future UFC veteran and then-EFC Middleweight Champion Garreth McLellan at EFC Africa 33, losing via guillotine choke submission in the third round.[12]

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.[13] 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.[14] Du Plessis was later set to defend his title against one of its former holders, Henry Fadipe. However, the bout was scrapped when Fadipe encountered issues with his visa.[15]

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-weight class Champion within the promotion.[16]

KSW

In 2018, Du Plessis was slated to face KSW Welterweight Champion 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.[17] The two would later rematch at KSW 45: De Fries vs. Bedorf in the fall of that year, with Du Plessis being defeated via third-round knockout.[18]

Du Plessis fought again for KSW at KSW 50 against Brazilian-German fighter Joilton Santos, winning via TKO.[19]

Return to EFC

After Brendan Lesar upset veteran Garreth McLellan for the EFC Interim Middleweight Championship at EFC Africa 80,[20] Du Plessis was next set to face Lesar for the title at EFC Africa 83. Du Plessis won via first-round guillotine choke submission.[21]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Du Plessis made his promotional debut against Markus Perez on 11 October 2020 at UFC Fight Night 179.[22] He won the fight via knockout in round one.[23]

Du Plessis was scheduled to face Trevin Giles on 20 March 2021 at UFC on ESPN 21.[24] However, Du Plessis pulled out due to visa issues which restricted his travel and was replaced by Roman Dolidze.[25] The bout with Giles was rescheduled for 10 July 2021 on UFC 264.[26] Du Plessis won the fight via knockout in round two.[27] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[28]

Du Plessis was scheduled to face Chris Curtis on 9 April 2022 at UFC 273.[29] However, Curtis withdrew due to a wrist injury and was replaced by Anthony Hernandez.[30] However, the bouts were yet again shuffled after Nassourdine Imavov withdrew due to visa issues, with Du Plessis now facing Kevin Gastelum.[31] However, Gastelum withdrew a week before the event due to an undisclosed injury and his bout with Du Plessis was cancelled.[32]

Du Plessis then faced Brad Tavares at UFC 276 on 2 July 2022.[33] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[34]

Du Plessis faced Darren Till at UFC 282 on 10 December 2022.[35] He won the fight via submission in round three.[36] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[37]

Du Plessis faced Derek Brunson on 4 March 2023, at UFC 285.[38] He won the fight via technical knockout due to a corner stoppage at 4:59 of the second round.[39]

Du Plessis faced former UFC Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in a title eliminator fight on 8 July 2023, at UFC 290.[40] He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round.[41] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award, and the number one contender spot in the Middleweight division.[42]

Following his defeat of Whittaker, it was expected that Du Plessis would face Israel Adesanya for the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 293.[43] However shortly thereafter Du Plessis would pull out of the fight due to an undisclosed injury, and was eventually replaced by Sean Strickland.[44]

Professional grappling career

Du Plessis has represented his team, CIT MMA, at a Submission Kings Quintet event, where he submitted all five members of the team Gracie Barra to win the round.[45]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Kickboxing

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
22 matches 20 wins 2 losses
By knockout 9 1
By submission 10 1
By decision 1 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 20–2 Robert Whittaker TKO (punches) UFC 290 8 July 2023 2 2:23 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States UFC middleweight title eliminator. Performance of the Night.
Win 19–2 Derek Brunson TKO (corner stoppage) UFC 285 4 March 2023 2 4:59 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 18–2 Darren Till Submission (face crank) UFC 282 10 December 2022 3 2:43 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Fight of the Night.
Win 17–2 Brad Tavares Decision (unanimous) UFC 276 2 July 2022 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 16–2 Trevin Giles KO (punches) UFC 264 10 July 2021 2 1:41 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 15–2 Markus Perez KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen 11 October 2020 1 3:22 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 14–2 Brendan Lesar Submission (guillotine choke) EFC 83 14 December 2019 1 4:15 Gauteng, South Africa Defended and unified the EFC Middleweight Championship.
Win 13–2 Joilton Santos TKO (punches) KSW 50 14 September 2019 2 3:04 London, England Return to Middleweight.
Loss 12–2 Roberto Soldić KO (punches) KSW 45 6 October 2018 3 2:33 London, England Lost the KSW Welterweight Championship. Fight of the Night.
Win 12–1 Roberto Soldić TKO (punches) KSW 43 14 April 2018 2 1:37 Wrocław, Poland Won the KSW Welterweight Championship. Performance of the Night.
Win 11–1 Yannick Bahati Submission (guillotine choke) EFC 62 19 August 2017 1 1:30 Gauteng, South Africa Won the EFC Middleweight Championship.
Win 10–1 Maurício da Rocha Jr. TKO (punches) EFC 59 13 May 2017 1 3:58 Gauteng, South Africa
Win 9–1 Rafał Haratyk Submission (guillotine choke) EFC 56 9 December 2016 2 3:34 Gauteng, South Africa Middleweight bout.
Win 8–1 Martin van Staden Submission (guillotine choke) EFC 50 17 June 2016 3 3:59 Gauteng, South Africa Won the vacant EFC Welterweight Championship.
Win 7–1 Bruno Mukulu Submission (rear-naked choke) EFC 46 12 December 2015 2 2:50 Gauteng, South Africa Catchweight (176 lb) bout.
Win 6–1 Dino Bagattin Submission (rear-naked choke) EFC 40 6 June 2015 2 3:33 Gauteng, South Africa Welterweight debut.
Win 5–1 Darren Daniel Submission (rear-naked choke) EFC 37 21 February 2015 1 4:50 Gauteng, South Africa
Loss 4–1 Garreth McLellan Submission (guillotine choke) EFC 33 30 August 2014 3 2:12 Gauteng, South Africa For the EFC Middleweight Championship.
Win 4–0 Donavin Hawkey TKO (punches) EFC 27 27 February 2014 1 4:50 Gauteng, South Africa
Win 3–0 JC Lamprecht Submission (rear-naked choke) EFC 24 10 October 2013 3 1:54 Gauteng, South Africa
Win 2–0 Bruno Mukulu Submission (rear-naked choke) EFC 23 12 September 2013 1 2:34 Gauteng, South Africa
Win 1–0 Tshikangu Makuebo TKO (knee injury) EFC 21 25 July 2013 1 1:18 Gauteng, South Africa Middleweight debut.

See also

References
  1. "Fightcenter: Dricus "Stillknocks" du Plessis. www.tapology.com". Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  2. "EFC Athletes Profile: Dricus "Stillknocks" du Plessis. www.efcworldwide.com/". Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  3. "Dricus du Plessis | UFC". UFC.com. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  4. "UFC Rankings | UFC.com". www.ufc.com. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  5. Dricus du Plessis gives Las Vegas some Afrikaans lessons at UFC 276 Julian Kiewietz, iol.co.za (2 July 2022)
  6. ‘Huge congrats to South African MMA’ - Dricus du Plessis garners praise from Conor McGregor after major UFC win Julian Kiewietz, msn.com (9 July 2023)
  7. "Du Plessis - EFC Worldwide". efcworldwide.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  8. Ariel Helwani (5 April 2022). Dricus Du Plessis Rips Kelvin Gastelum: ‘He Literally Took Food Off My Table’ - MMA Fighting. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022 – via YouTube.
  9. "'I'm no brother of yours, son': Dricus du Plessis on being African and loving beer". news24.com. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  10. "Dricus du Plessis to carry flag ahead of Springboks vs All Blacks". thesouthafrican.com. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  11. "Dricus Du Plessis Eyes Clean Sweep of Wins for South Africa Against Australia". sportsbrief.com. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  12. Rob Tatum (30 August 2014). "EFC Africa 33 Results: McLellan Chokes Out Du Plessis to Retain Middleweight Title". combatpress.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  13. "Extreme Fighting Championship (Africa) EFC Africa 40". Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
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  16. "EFC 62 Results: History is Made". Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
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