Dricus du Plessis

Dricus du Plessis (DDP), born 14 January 1994 in Welkom, South Africa, is a professional mixed martial artist competing in the UFC Middleweight division. An Afrikaner, he began judo at five, wrestling at twelve, and kickboxing at fourteen, winning gold at the 2012 WAKO Junior World Championships in K-1. He also played rugby and briefly studied agricultural economics before dropping out to pursue MMA. Du Plessis fought in EFC, becoming a two-division champion, and in KSW, where he won the Welterweight title. He debuted in the UFC in 2020, won the UFC Middleweight Championship in 2024, defended it twice, and lost it to Khamzat Chimaev in 2025. Known for his unorthodox, high-pressure striking and psychological tactics, he has a professional record of 23–3 with 9 KOs, 11 submissions, and 3 decisions. Outside the Octagon, he underwent nose surgery in 2023, trains with extreme methods, publicly supports Donald Trump and Elon Musk, and became engaged to Vasti Spiller in 2025. He has earned multiple Fight and Performance of the Night bonuses and was named 2024 International Fighter of the Year by World MMA Awards.

Category:1994 births
Category:Living people
Category:Martial artists