Dricus du Plessis

Dricus du Plessis, known by his initials DDP and the nickname Stillknocks, is a South African mixed martial artist who made history as the first fighter from his country to win a UFC championship. Born on January 14, 1994, in Welkom, he began his combat sports career in kickboxing before transitioning to MMA. Du Plessis currently competes in the UFC's Middleweight division, where he held the title from January 2024 to August 2025 and now sits at #2 in the official rankings as of August 2025. Before joining the UFC, he dominated the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC), winning both the Welterweight and Middleweight titles, and also captured the Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW) Welterweight championship. His fighting style combines relentless aggression with a well-rounded skill set, yielding a high finish rate of 20 wins by knockout or submission across 23 victories. [edit]

Du Plessis grew up in a sports-oriented Afrikaner family in Welkom, with rugby forming a central part of his upbringing. He began training in judo at age five, following his older brothers Neil and WC, and continued for five to six years. At twelve, he switched to wrestling, though he was not initially fond of it. His passion ignited at age fourteen when he discovered K-1 kickboxing, and he was immediately hooked. Alongside martial arts, he played rugby throughout his school years and remains a vocal supporter of the Springboks. In 2012, at age seventeen, he became South Africa's first medalist at the WAKO World Championships, winning gold in K-1 style kickboxing. He attended the University of Pretoria, studying agricultural economics, but dropped out during his final year to pursue a full-time career in mixed martial arts. He made his professional MMA debut in 2013. [edit]

Du Plessis made his UFC debut on October 10, 2020, knocking out Markus Perez in the first round at UFC Fight Night 179. He quickly climbed the middleweight rankings with consecutive wins over Trevin Giles, Brad Tavares, and Darren Till. The pivotal breakthrough came at UFC 290 on July 8, 2023, when he stopped former champion Robert Whittaker via TKO in the second round, earning a title shot. On January 20, 2024, at UFC 297, he defeated Sean Strickland via split decision to win the UFC Middleweight Championship, becoming the first South African to hold a UFC title. He successfully defended the belt twice: submitting Israel Adesanya via rear-naked choke at UFC 305 in August 2024, and winning a unanimous decision over Strickland in a rematch at UFC 312 in February 2025. He lost the title on August 16, 2025, at UFC 319, dropping a unanimous decision to Khamzat Chimaev. As of 2026, he is scheduled to fight at UFC Fight Night 281 on July 18 and sits at #13 in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings. [edit]

Du Plessis is known for relentless aggression and a well-rounded skill set that combines striking and grappling, with a high finish rate of 20 wins by knockout or submission. Media coverage emphasizes his historic status as the first South African UFC champion and his journey from small-town beginnings. His social media and public appearances convey a grounded, patriotic persona, often highlighting his South African heritage and inspiring young athletes. He is widely celebrated in South Africa as a national sporting hero, though no official fandom name is documented. [edit]

Dricus du Plessis stands as the 20th most famous person in South Africa, holding steady from the previous cycle, alongside his standing as the 14th most famous person from South Africa, also holding steady. His global footprint places him at the 42nd most famous person in MMA & Boxing within the iFANN Global Fame Rankings, a position that has remained steady. These figures reflect a career that has transcended regional borders to capture the imagination of combat sports fans worldwide. The man known as Stillknocks commands a following that is less a passive audience and more a unified national movement. While there is no single official name like "The Army" for his supporters, the fanbase has fully adopted his moniker, referring to themselves simply as followers of Stillknocks. This identity was solidified by the release of the exclusive "Stillknocks bomber" jacket, a limited-edition item that turned merchandise into a badge of belonging for those who wanted to wear their loyalty. Fans are fiercely protective, often rallying instantly when critics question his status, creating an atmosphere of intense loyalty that mirrors the energy of a national hero. Their rituals center on the celebration of his resilience, particularly the narrative of his return after the loss to Khamzat Chimaev. The phrase "Stillknocks 2.0" serves as a modern rallying cry, marking the era where he dismantled Kamaru Usman to prove his greatness had not faded. From the electric crowds at UFC Oklahoma City to the viral resonance of his admission that he hates being a loser, this community builds its mythology around a spirit that refuses to break.[edit]

Dricus du Plessis dreamed of playing rugby for the Springboks before transitioning fully to MMA. His nickname Stillknocks is a play on still knocks, referencing his punching power. He has been open about competing with severely impaired breathing due to chronic nasal congestion, claiming only 8% oxygen intake through his nostrils before corrective surgery. He started judo at age five, wrestling at twelve, and kickboxing at fourteen. At age seventeen, he became South Africa's first WAKO world champion in kickboxing. He trains at Team CIT MMA under Morne Visser. He is bilingual, speaking both English and Afrikaans. His initials DDP are commonly used as his moniker. Beyond these facts, the story of his "Spirit Unbroken" campaign defines his legacy. After losing the title to Khamzat Chimaev, he framed the defeat not as an end but as fuel, a narrative that resonated deeply with his supporters. This culminated in a legendary victory over former champion Kamaru Usman, a fight described as a clinic that validated his elite status. Fans widely retell this comeback as the definitive proof of his character, turning a potential slump into a historic resurgence. Another viral moment involves his candid interview quote, "I hate being a loser," which humanized the fighter and endeared him to audiences who relate to the pain of failure. Some observers also note his fights can become increasingly goofy as they progress, adding a chaotic unpredictability that keeps fans engaged.[edit]

Du Plessis was born to parents Japie and Gerda du Plessis in Welkom, South Africa. He grew up with two older brothers, Neil and WC du Plessis, who both practiced martial arts and inspired him to start judo at age five. His family was deeply sports-oriented, with rugby playing a central role. He has not publicly disclosed any information about a spouse, partner, or children, and keeps his personal life private. He is bilingual, speaking English and Afrikaans at home. [edit]

Du Plessis trains at Team CIT MMA in Hatfield, Pretoria, under head coach Morne Visser. His most frequent opponents include Sean Strickland (fought twice), Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, Derek Brunson, Darren Till, and Khamzat Chimaev. He is a prominent figure in South African combat sports, often compared to other African UFC champions like Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya. [edit]

Dricus du Plessis has kept his romantic life extremely private. There are no confirmed public relationships, dating history, or marital status details reported by major sports outlets, UFC media, or his official biography. No credible sources document any romantic partners, engagements, marriages, divorces, or children. As of 2026, he has not confirmed any current partner, spouse, or dating relationship in interviews or on social media. [edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Dricus du Plessis's net worth in 2026 is estimated at $3 Million. His primary income sources are UFC fight purses, pay-per-view revenue shares from his championship bouts, and sponsorship deals. As champion, his earnings increased significantly from the title fight and two defenses. Pre-UFC, he competed in EFC and KSW, where purses were lower. Specific figures for fight purses and endorsements are not publicly disclosed, but his net worth has grown steadily since his UFC debut in 2020.[edit]

Du Plessis is a former UFC Middleweight Champion with two successful title defenses. He also held the EFC Welterweight and Middleweight titles, and the KSW Welterweight Championship. In kickboxing, he won a gold medal at the WAKO World Championships in 2012, becoming South Africa's first medalist at that event. [edit]