Dricus du Plessis-or better known as “Stillknocks”-has rapidly risen as one of the most exciting talents to grace the middleweight division inside the Octagon. Hailing out of South Africa, Du Plessis has blended knockout power together with grappling prowess and a never-say-die mentality to score victories across his career against some of the best in the world. By September 2024, he had established his place among the elite middleweights after high-profile wins that catapulted him into the spotlight.
Early Career and Rise in the UFC
Dricus du Plessis began his professional journey in MMA in 2013. Mostly building up his reputation in European and African MMA, he became champion in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions in the EFC while competing with KSW-a leading Polish MMA promotion. He has shown his versatility by earning multiple knockout and submission victories.
Du Plessis burst into the UFC with a bang, as he cleaned Markus Perez out with a single knockout in his first fight in 2020. This was only the beginning of the streak of stellar performances which completely set him as a force to be reckoned with across the middleweight division.
Fighting Style
Du Plessis is known to be an aggressive fighter who fuses Muay Thai striking with strong grappling. He is known for his brutal knockouts and a greater portion of his victories come via knockout or submission. He has a really strong base in judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and he’s an imposing figure both on the ground and standing. His cardio, pressure, and relentless pace have overwhelmed many opponents, while his ability to adapt to a variety of situations inside the octagon speaks to his high-level skillset.
Major Victories in UFC
One of the biggest breakouts to come for du Plessis was when he defeated former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 in July 2023. It was a victory that rocketed him to the top of the division, setting up his highly hyped bout against Israel Adesanya, a former middleweight champion himself.
He further cemented his position as the UFC middleweight champion in August 2024 after a stunning performance at UFC 305, where he submitted Adesanya. This was his career-defining moment, as he became the first fighter to submit Adesanya in the octagon.
Rivalry with Israel Adesanya
This simply means that the rivalry between Du Plessis and Adesanya added an extra high level of excitement to the middleweight division. The feud was not just for title contention but also developed much personal animosity through a series of verbal exchanges leading up to their fight. His win against Adesanya at UFC 305 was the culmination of that heated rivalry, one where he could find his words translated into a stellar performance inside the cage.
Future Challenges
Alex Pereira and Beyond Since his victory over Adesanya, yet another rivalry has been brewing-a battle between du Plessis and Alex Pereira, the current UFC light heavyweight champion. He openly declared his wish to fight du Plessis for the middleweight belt, irrespective of his status as a light heavyweight fighter.
Whereas Du Plessis has been open to this challenge, he insinuated that the fight might happen in the light heavyweight division.
While Pereira is the champion at 205 lbs, the eventuality of such a super-fight between them is always on the mind of the UFC community-one that could give his legacy a possible boost or so it would seem.
What’s Next for Du Plessis
For now, du Plessis will most likely appear again in the main event early in 2025 for a possible rematch against Adesanya or against other top contenders like Robert Whittaker and Sean Strickland. He has promised to take on any challenger that comes his way and keep on proving himself as the undisputed middleweight king.
He has also hinted at the possibility of moving up to the light heavyweight division to challenge Alex Pereira. This would make him a potential two-division champion
Personal Life and Legacy Outside of the Octagon
Du Plessis is a proud South African – often speaking of his wish to represent his country on the world stage. Obviously passionate about the growth of MMA in Africa, du Plessis is naturally loud in his call for the UFC to head to the continent. The success of Du Plessis is one the entire nation can be proud of, with many looking up to him as a pathfinder for athletes of African extraction into the sport. He is the first UFC champion from the African continent and has inspired a new generation of fighters into trying their luck in MMA at the highest level.
Conclusion
What Dricus du Plessis has achieved in what is still a pretty young career, he is far from over. With the UFC middleweight title wrapped around his waist and some super-fights potentially ahead, the future certainly looks bright for this South African sensation-be it in defense of his title or pursuit of new challenges at light heavyweight.
Read More: The Net Worth of Israel Adesanya: A Deep Outline of the Fortune of the UFC Star
