Dricus Du Plessis

Dricus Du Plessis, known as “Stillknocks,” is a South African mixed martial artist from Pretoria who holds the UFC Middleweight Championship. Born on January 10, 1994, Du Plessis began training in martial arts as a teenager and competed in kickboxing and MMA on the South African circuit for years before making his UFC debut in 2020. He is the first African-born fighter to hold a UFC world title.

Du Plessis rose through the middleweight division with a string of finishes before defeating former champion Sean Strickland in a competitive split-decision at UFC 297 in January 2024 to claim the belt. He successfully defended it against Israel Adesanya later that year, cementing his place as the division’s dominant force. His style — aggressive, physical, and finishing-oriented across all methods — reflects a fighter who has polished every area of his game without sacrificing the instinct to end fights early.

Du Plessis has drawn comparisons to early-career Adesanya for his confidence and promotional ability, but his fighting style could not be more different — where Adesanya uses distance and timing, Du Plessis operates at close range with elbows, dirty boxing, and a willingness to drag fights into uncomfortable territory. His championship run has elevated South African MMA to its highest international profile in the sport’s history.