Dricus du Plessis is a professional MMA fighter from South Africa. His transition from the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has been nothing short of incredible. Let’s explore Dricus du Plessis Net Worth, early years, career, personal life, awards, and achievements.

Dricus du Plessis Net Worth

Early Years

Dricus was born on January 14, 1994 in Welkom, South Africa, to parents Japie and Gerda Du Plessis. He started judo at the age of five, then wrestled at twelve, and finally kickboxed at fourteen. By the age of 17, he had been South Africa’s first WAKO World Championship medalist. He attended the University of Pretoria but dropped out in his final year to pursue his love.

Career

Dricus du Plessis started his professional MMA career in 2013. He soon established himself in the EFC, winning titles in both the Middleweight and Welterweight divisions. His outstanding performances drew the attention of foreign promotions.

In 2018, Dricus du Plessis defeated Roberto Soldić for the KSW Welterweight Championship at KSW 43 by TKO. They rematched at KSW 45, with du Plessis losing by TKO. He later fought Joilton Santos at KSW 50 and won by TKO.

Du Plessis returned to the EFC and defeated Brendan Lesar for the EFC Interim Middleweight Championship at EFC Africa 83. He made his UFC debut against Markus Perez at UFC Fight Night 179, winning by knockout. He won his second UFC bout against Trevin Giles at UFC 264, winning Performance of the Night honors.

Due to Chris Curtis’ injury, du Plessis faced Anthony Hernandez instead of Curtis at UFC 273. He was then scheduled to fight Kelvin Gastelum, who withdrew due to an injury. At UFC 276, Du Plessis defeated Brad Tavares by unanimous decision.

2022-present

At UFC 282, he submitted Darren Till in the third round, receiving his first Fight of the Night award. Du Plessis defeated Derek Brunson in UFC 285 via technical knockout.

He defeated Robert Whittaker in a title eliminator bout at UFC 290 via technical knockout, winning the Performance of the Night award and the number one contender status in the Middleweight division.

Du Plessis was scheduled to challenge Israel Adesanya for the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 293, but withdrew due to a leg injury. He later faced Sean Strickland for the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 297, which he won by split decision and became South Africa’s first UFC champion. This battle also resulted in him receiving the battle of the Night bonus.

In a submission grappling event, du Plessis represented CIT MMA and won by submitting all five members of the Gracie Barra team.
Du Plessis has sponsorship partnerships with firms like Ultimate Sports Nutrition, World Sports Betting, SuperSport, Vivify U, and Hennies.

Awards and Achievements

In kickboxing, he won the 2012 Junior World Championships, taking gold in the -86kg category under K-1 rules. He transitioned to mixed martial arts (MMA) and is now the UFC Middleweight Champion, making him the first South African fighter to do so.

Dricus has received the Performance of the Night bonus twice, for his fights against Trevin Giles and Robert Whittaker, and the Fight of the Night bonus twice, for his fights against Darren Till and Sean Strickland. He is known for his aggressive style and owns the record for the most significant strikes landed-per-minute in UFC Middleweight division history (6.49). He also has the sixth-longest victory streak in the division’s history, with seven consecutive wins.

In his previous career, he held titles in organizations such as Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) as Middleweight Champion with one title defense and Welterweight Champion, and Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW) as Welterweight Champion. He was awarded Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night for his fight against Roberto Soldić in KSW.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dricus du Plessis

1. How many titles has Dricus du Plessis won?

Dricus has won five titles, which include a title defense.

2. What is Dricus du Plessis’ fighting style?

Dricus combines striking and grappling, with skills in kickboxing, judo, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

3. When did Dricus du Plessis make his UFC debut?

Dricus made his UFC debut on October 11, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 179.

4. What is Dricus du Plessis’ nickname?

His nickname is “Stillknocks”, reflecting his knockout prowess.

5. What is Dricus du Plessis’ net worth?

Dricus du Plessis’ net worth is around $3 million.

Conclusion

Du Plessis continues to make headlines in the MMA world, and his net worth reflects his rising star status. With exciting fights ahead, he remains a fighter to watch.