Dricus du Plessis: South African fighter on top

Dricus du Plessis is one of the most entertaining fighters in the UFC. He is the Middleweight Champion and has admirers all around the world, especially in Australia. The South African fighter is well-known in MMA circles for his explosive fighting style and calm demeanour. His recent performances have only solidified his place as one of the best fighters in the world. “Stillknocks” is back in the spotlight as he gets ready to defend his championship against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319.

Early life and background

Dricus du Plessis was born in Welkom, South Africa, on January 14, 1994. He started doing martial arts when he was quite young. He began with judo when he was five, then moved on to wrestling and by the time he was a teenager, he was doing kickboxing. He had a lot of great accomplishments early in his career, like winning a gold medal in the K-1 category at the 2012 WAKO World Championships. This was a historic win that made him South Africa’s first kickboxing medalist on that platform.

But du Plessis thought mixed martial arts had better chances for him. He moved into professional MMA in 2013 and quickly rose through the ranks in regional circuits before breaking through on the world stage.

EFC and KSW crowns opened the door to the UFC

Dricus du Plessis fought in the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) before joining the UFC, where he won both the welterweight and middleweight belts. This showed that he could fight in several weight classes. He also won the Welterweight Championship in Poland’s KSW promotion, which showed that he was able to compete on a worldwide scale.

These early wins showed that he was a well-rounded fighter who could strike, grapple and submit. Soon after, the UFC called.

Dricus du Plessis made his impact in the UFC

When he knocked out Markus Perez in the first round in his maiden fight in 2020. This strong performance set the mood for what supporters may expect. He went on to win a lot of fights, beating big names like Darren Till, Derek Brunson and Robert Whittaker, who was a great fan favourite in Australia.

His big break came in January 2024, when he beat Sean Strickland by split decision at UFC 297. This made him the first South African UFC champion. This triumph made him a global star and made the Australian MMA community even more interested in him.

Title defences that won fans in Australia

Du Plessis’s relationship with Australian fans grew stronger when he defended his championship for the first time at UFC 305 in Perth. There, he submitted Israel Adesanya in the fourth round, shocking the middleweight division. Adesanya had a lot of fans in Australia because he was from Oceania, which made the fight even more interesting.

Then, in February 2025, du Plessis defended his belt again at UFC 312 in a rematch with Sean Strickland. He won by unanimous decision. His calm, professional manner and precise performance made the Australian crowd like him even more.

Everyone is watching UFC 319: Du Plessis vs Chimaev

The fight between du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev, which is set for August 16, 2025, in Chicago, is already getting a lot of attention throughout the world. Chimaev is still unbeaten and is known for his aggressive style, but du Plessis’s ability to adjust and experience as a champion may help him keep the title.

Australian fans are especially interested in this bout because many of them want to watch how the South African champion does against an opponent that is dangerous and hard to anticipate.

Fighting style and numbers

People love Du Plessis’s fighting style, which is built on pressure. He has a good finishing ability, with 9 wins by knockout and 11 by submission in his 23 professional fights.

He trains at the CIT Performance Institute in Pretoria with head coach Morne Visser. There, he works on improving his skills in both striking and grappling.

Why Australians like Dricus du Plessis

Australia’s ties to du Plessis stretch beyond the fight in Perth. His kind demeanour, strong work ethic, and story of being an underdog fit with Australian ideals. He has also supported South African sporting teams, notably by cheering for the Springboks during their matches in Australia. Local fans appreciated this.

His calm demeanour is a change from the sometimes loud and controversial character of the fight scene, which MMA fans in Australia like since they appreciate humility and heart.

Conclusion

Dricus du Plessis has already created history, but his narrative is not over yet. As he gets ready for what could be his worst bout yet against Khamzat Chimaev, Australian fans will be watching attentively and supporting a fighter who is both tough and classy.