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Dricus du Plessis

Dricus du Plessis is a South African mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC middleweight division.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Dricus du Plessis is a South African professional mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC middleweight division. He became the first South African to win a UFC championship, holding the UFC Middleweight Championship from 2024 to 2025.

Background

Du Plessis, known by the nickname DDP, is a South African mixed martial artist born on 14 January 1994 in Welkom, South Africa. He is a former UFC middleweight champion and has also held titles in EFC and KSW.

UFC career

He fought in the UFC middleweight division and won the UFC Middleweight Championship in 2024 by defeating Sean Strickland. He lost the title to Khamzat Chimaev in 2025, according to cited results.

Championships

Du Plessis became the first South African to win a UFC title. He previously held championship belts in the EFC (as welterweight and middleweight champion) and KSW (as welterweight champion).

Record and ranking

The cited sources list his professional MMA record as 23-3-0. Some sources also list a UFC-specific record of 10-1-0 and show him ranked near the top of the UFC middleweight division.

Key facts

  • Born on 14 January 1994 in Welkom, South Africa.
  • Competes in the UFC middleweight division.
  • First South African to win a UFC championship.
  • Held the UFC Middleweight Championship from 2024 to 2025.
  • Beat Sean Strickland to win the UFC middleweight title.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Dricus du Plessis?
Dricus du Plessis is a South African professional mixed martial artist and former UFC Middleweight Champion.
How old is Dricus du Plessis?
He was born on 14 January 1994.
What is Dricus du Plessis' UFC record?
The cited results list him at 10-1-0 in UFC-specific statistics, while his overall professional MMA record is 23-3-0.
Who did Dricus du Plessis beat for the title?
He defeated Sean Strickland to win the UFC Middleweight Championship.
When is Dricus du Plessis' next fight?
The cited results do not confirm a future bout after his most recent recorded fight; no next fight was verified from the sources provided.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dricus_du_Plessis
    Supports: Birth date, nationality, UFC middleweight status, former UFC title, first South African UFC champion, other championships.
  2. UFC — https://www.ufc.com/athlete/dricus-du-plessis
    Supports: UFC fighter profile and fight result information.
  3. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/3166126/dricus-du-plessis
    Supports: Birth date, UFC record, and fight history including title bouts.
  4. Sherdog — https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Dricus-Du-Plessis-146193
    Supports: Age, professional record, and fight history.
  5. Stillknocks.com — https://stillknocks.com/about/
    Supports: Birthplace and background biography.