How a South African fighter conquered the UFC with an unorthodox, high-pressure style
In short: Dricus du Plessis became the first South African to win a UFC championship, defying traditional technique with a relentless, high-pressure approach. From his roots in judo and kickboxing to his rise as a multi-division champion, his career is defined by grit, physical altercations, and a surprising medical revelation.
Born in Welkom in 1994, Dricus du Plessis began his martial arts journey with judo at age five, later adding wrestling and kickboxing. By 2012, he was a WAKO World Champion in K-1 style kickboxing, but he soon pivoted to mixed martial arts, recognizing the greater financial potential. His path to the UFC was paved through dominance in the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) and Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW), where he secured titles in both welterweight and middleweight divisions.
Du Plessis entered the UFC in 2020, quickly climbing the ranks with a series of high-profile victories. His rise was not without obstacles; in 2023, he underwent surgery to correct a severe breathing impairment, with his coach Morne Visser claiming he had been competing with only 8% oxygen intake through his nostrils. Despite this, he defeated former champions like Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, eventually capturing the UFC Middleweight Championship against Sean Strickland in 2024. His tenure as champion saw successful defenses against Strickland and Adesanya before he ultimately lost the title to Khamzat Chimaev in 2025.
Analysts often describe his fighting style as unorthodox, favoring constant forward pressure and high-volume striking over conventional techniques. Du Plessis defends this approach as prioritizing pure effectiveness. Outside the cage, his career has been marked by intense rivalries, including a physical brawl with Strickland at a 2023 event, and his vocal support for figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk. His legacy is cemented by his status as the first South African UFC champion and his record of wins over four former UFC titleholders.
Beyond the headlines, his training methods have drawn attention, specifically reports that his coach used electric shocks from a taser as a disciplinary measure for poor performance in the gym. Despite the controversies and the physical toll of his career, du Plessis remains a pivotal figure in the sport, holding a nine-fight win streak in the middleweight division and earning multiple performance bonuses throughout his tenure.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Dricus du Plessis
- Also: Wikidata — Dricus du Plessis · CC0
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