Dricus du Plessis | |
---|---|
Born | [1] Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa | 14 January 1994
Other names | Stillknocks |
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) |
Division | Middleweight (2013–2015; 2019–present) Welterweight (2013–2018) |
Reach | 76 in (190 cm)[2] |
Stance | Orthodox |
Fighting out of | Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa |
Team | Team CIT MMA |
Rank | 2nd degree black belt in Kickboxing[3] |
Years active | 2013–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 22 |
Wins | 20 |
By knockout | 9 |
By submission | 10 |
By decision | 1 |
Losses | 2 |
By knockout | 1 |
By submission | 1 |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
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 July 11, 2023, he is #1 in the UFC middleweight rankings.[4]
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] 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]
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.[9]
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.[10] 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.[11] 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.
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.[12]
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 April 14. In an upset, Du Plessis dethroned Soldic via TKO, after dropping him with a left hook.[13] 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.[14]
Du Plessis fought again for KSW at KSW 50 against Brazilian-German fighter Joilton Santos, winning via TKO.[15]
After Brendan Lesar upset veteran Garreth McLellan for the EFC Interim Middleweight Championship at EFC Africa 80,[16] Du Plessis was next set to face Lesar for the title at EFC Africa 83. Du Plessis won via first-round guillotine choke submission.[17]
Du Plessis made his promotional debut against Markus Perez on 11 October 2020 at UFC Fight Night 179.[18] He won the fight via knockout in round one.[19]
Du Plessis was scheduled to face Trevin Giles on March 20, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 21.[20] However, du Plessis pulled out due to visa issues which restricted his travel and was replaced by Roman Dolidze.[21] The bout with Giles was rescheduled for July 10, 2021 on UFC 264.[22] Du Plessis won the fight via knockout in round two.[23] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[24]
Du Plessis was scheduled to face Chris Curtis on April 9, 2022 at UFC 273.[25] However, Curtis withdrew due to a wrist injury and was replaced by Anthony Hernandez.[26] However, the bouts were yet again shuffled after Nassourdine Imavov withdrew due to visa issues, with Du Plessis now facing Kevin Gastelum.[27] However, Gastelum withdrew a week before the event due to an undisclosed injury and his bout with du Plessis was cancelled.[28]
Du Plessis then faced Brad Tavares at UFC 276 on July 2, 2022.[29] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[30]
Du Plessis faced Darren Till at UFC 282 on December 10, 2022.[31] He won the fight via submission in round three.[32] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[33]
Du Plessis faced Derek Brunson on March 4, 2023, at UFC 285.[34] He won the fight via technical knockout due to a corner stoppage at 4:59 of the second round.[35]
Du Plessis faced former UFC Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in a title eliminator fight on July 8, 2023, at UFC 290.[36] He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round.[37] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award, and the number one contender spot in the Middleweight division.[38]
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.[39]
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 | July 8, 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 | March 4, 2023 | 2 | 4:59 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 18–2 | Darren Till | Submission (face crank) | UFC 282 | December 10, 2022 | 3 | 2:43 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
Win | 17–2 | Brad Tavares | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 276 | July 2, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 16–2 | Trevin Giles | KO (punches) | UFC 264 | July 10, 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 | October 11, 2020 | 1 | 3:22 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
Win | 14–2 | Brendan Lesar | Submission (guillotine choke) | EFC Africa 83 | December 14, 2019 | 1 | 4:15 | Gauteng, South Africa | Defended and unified the EFC Middleweight Championship. |
Win | 13–2 | Joilton Santos | TKO (punches) | KSW 50 | September 14, 2019 | 2 | 3:04 | London, England | Return to Middleweight. |
Loss | 12–2 | Roberto Soldić | KO (punches) | KSW 45 | October 6, 2018 | 3 | 2:33 | London, England | Lost the KSW Welterweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
Win | 12–1 | Roberto Soldić | TKO (punches) | KSW 43 | April 14, 2018 | 2 | 1:37 | Wrocław, Poland | Won the KSW Welterweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
Win | 11–1 | Yannick Bahati | Submission (guillotine choke) | EFC Africa 62 | August 19, 2017 | 1 | 1:30 | Gauteng, South Africa | Won the EFC Middleweight Championship. |
Win | 10–1 | Maurício da Rocha Jr. | TKO (punches) | EFC Africa 59 | May 13, 2017 | 1 | 3:58 | Gauteng, South Africa | |
Win | 9–1 | Rafał Haratyk | Submission (guillotine choke) | EFC Africa 56 | December 9, 2016 | 2 | 3:34 | Gauteng, South Africa | Middleweight bout. |
Win | 8–1 | Martin van Staden | Submission (guillotine choke) | EFC Africa 50 | June 17, 2016 | 3 | 3:59 | Gauteng, South Africa | Won the vacant EFC Welterweight Championship. |
Win | 7–1 | Bruno Mukulu | Submission (rear-naked choke) | EFC Africa 46 | December 12, 2015 | 2 | 2:50 | Gauteng, South Africa | Catchweight (176 lb) bout. |
Win | 6–1 | Dino Bagattin | Submission (rear-naked choke) | EFC Africa 40 | June 6, 2015 | 2 | 3:33 | Gauteng, South Africa | Welterweight debut. |
Win | 5–1 | Darren Daniel | Submission (rear-naked choke) | EFC Africa 37 | February 21, 2015 | 1 | 4:50 | Gauteng, South Africa | |
Loss | 4–1 | Garreth McLellan | Submission (guillotine choke) | EFC Africa 33 | August 30, 2014 | 3 | 2:12 | Gauteng, South Africa | For the EFC Middleweight Championship. |
Win | 4–0 | Donavin Hawkey | TKO (punches) | EFC Africa 27 | February 27, 2014 | 1 | 4:50 | Gauteng, South Africa | |
Win | 3–0 | JC Lambrecht | Submission (rear-naked choke) | EFC Africa 24 | October 10, 2013 | 3 | 1:54 | Gauteng, South Africa | |
Win | 2–0 | Bruno Mukulu | Submission (rear-naked choke) | EFC Africa 23 | September 12, 2013 | 1 | 2:34 | Gauteng, South Africa | |
Win | 1–0 | Tshikangu Makuebo | TKO (knee injury) | EFC Africa 21 | July 25, 2013 | 1 | 1:18 | Gauteng, South Africa | Middleweight debut. |
Presented content of the Wikipedia article was extracted in 2023-07-19 based on https://en.wikipedia.org/?curid=62595898