Dricus du Plessis

Who Is Dricus du Plessis?

Dricus du Plessis stands as a beacon of South African resilience in the world of mixed martial arts. He transformed from a young judo enthusiast into the first South African to claim a UFC championship title, capturing the middleweight belt at UFC 297 in January 2024 with a hard-fought split decision over Sean Strickland.

His story is not just about victories. It is about identity. It is about pride. It is about a nation watching one of its own conquer the world’s most competitive combat sports organization.

Du Plessis combines knockout power with elite grappling, making him one of MMA’s most dangerous middleweights. Furthermore, his 24-3 record includes 9 knockout victories alongside 11 submissions — with 87% of his wins ending before the final bell.

He is, without question, one of the most electrifying fighters in UFC history.

Early Life: Born a Fighter in Welkom, South Africa

Afrikaner Roots and a Fighting Family

Dricus du Plessis was born on January 14, 1994, in Welkom, Orange Free State, South Africa. He is an Afrikaner, meaning his lineage dates back to early Dutch settlers in Southern Africa in 1652.

Dricus du Plessis was born to parents Japie and Gerda du Plessis. He grew up in a supportive family environment with two brothers, Neil du Plessis and WC du Plessis.

Gerda du Plessis boasts over 28 years of experience in the administrative field. She currently serves as an internal banker at Investec. His family instilled in him the values of discipline, perseverance, and pride — values that would define his career.

Growing Up: From Welkom to Pretoria

He spent his childhood years growing up in Pretoria, South Africa. He grew up in a supportive family environment, and cultural influences from his Afrikaner roots emphasized perseverance.

Along with martial arts, du Plessis also played rugby throughout his schooling years and has since been a vocal supporter of the Springboks, South Africa’s national rugby team. Therefore, his love of competition was never limited to the cage.

University: A Bold Decision to Drop Out

Du Plessis attended the University of Pretoria, where he studied agricultural economics. However, he dropped out during his final year to pursue a career in mixed martial arts.

It was a massive gamble. However, it was a gamble that paid off in a way few could have imagined.

Martial Arts Journey: A Champion Forged Through Discipline

Judo at Age Five

Dricus du Plessis first stepped on the mats at age five, when he began judo lessons in Welkom, South Africa. By twelve, he had added wrestling. At fourteen, he was training in kickboxing.

This early exposure to contact sports built his resilience. It was martial arts, however, that truly captured his imagination — starting with judo at just five years old. These formative experiences shaped du Plessis’s identity as a fighter who thrives under pressure and adapts to chaos.

WAKO World Champion in Kickboxing (2012)

In 2012, at 17 years old, du Plessis became South Africa’s first-ever medalist at the WAKO World Championships by winning gold in K-1 style kickboxing. This was a historic achievement. No South African had ever done it before.

In amateur K-1 bouts, he boasted a remarkable 33-0 record with 30 knockouts. Because of this stunning record, his nickname was born.

The origin of his nickname “Stillknocks” was given by his brother after his amateur K-1 career, where his record was 33-0 with 30 knockouts.

The Transition to MMA

Du Plessis decided to transition to mixed martial arts after realising there was not as much money in kickboxing.

After he realized that there were almost no chances for him to make money in kickboxing, he started focusing on mixed martial arts. Additionally, he holds a second-degree black belt in kickboxing, which has remained a cornerstone of his fighting game in the UFC.

Professional MMA Career: From EFC to the UFC

The EFC Years (2013–2018): Winning Africa’s Top Titles

Du Plessis launched his professional MMA career in July 2013, quickly making a name for himself in local promotions.

He compiled a 4-0 record before facing future UFC fighter and then-EFC Middleweight Champion Garreth McLellan at EFC Africa 33. He lost via guillotine choke submission in the third round. It was his first professional loss. But he came back stronger.

Du Plessis achieved notable success as a two-weight world champion in the EFC, holding titles in both the Middleweight and Welterweight divisions. Furthermore, he tested his skills in Europe with KSW — Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki — before earning a UFC contract in 2020.

UFC Debut and Unbeaten Streak (2020–2023)

Du Plessis joined the UFC on October 10, 2020, making his debut against Markus Perez. His debut performance showcased his skills, earning him a first-round knockout victory.

After debuting in the UFC in October 2020, du Plessis rattled off nine consecutive wins, showcasing his trademark guillotine chokes and punishing leg kicks.

His UFC wins during this streak included:

• Markus Perez — TKO, Round 1 (October 2020)
• Trevin Giles — TKO, Round 1 (March 2021)
• Marc-André Barriault — TKO, Round 2 (September 2021)
• Žak Cummings — Submission, Round 1 (March 2022)
• Brad Tavares — TKO, Round 3 (June 2022)
• Darren Till — Submission, Round 2 (September 2022)
• Derek Brunson — TKO, Round 2 (March 2023)
• Robert Whittaker — TKO, Round 2 (July 2023)

At UFC 290 in July 2023, du Plessis stopped Robert Whittaker via strikes at 2:23 of the second round. This win was the statement that put the entire middleweight division on notice.

UFC Championship Reign: History Made in January 2024

UFC 297 — Winning the Belt (January 20, 2024)

On January 20, 2024, he made history as the first-ever UFC champion from South Africa.

At UFC 297, du Plessis won a five-round split decision over Sean Strickland to win the UFC middleweight title. The win was controversial. However, it was undeniable. Du Plessis had climbed to the top of the world.

His journey is not just about wins in the octagon. It is a story of cultural pride, strategic risks, and a commitment to elevating MMA on the African continent — where he continues to inspire a new generation of fighters.

UFC 305 — Submitting a Legend (August 18, 2024)

At UFC 305 on August 17, 2024, du Plessis submitted Israel Adesanya via rear-naked choke at 3:38 of the fourth round to retain his UFC middleweight title.

Du Plessis captured UFC gold at the start of 2024, dethroning Sean Strickland at UFC 297. Later that year, he defended the title against one of the best middleweights of all time — Adesanya.

Submitting Israel Adesanya — the former champion and one of the greatest to ever compete at middleweight — was proof of du Plessis’s elite-level credentials.

UFC 312 — Second Title Defence (February 8, 2025)

On February 9, 2025, he successfully defended the UFC Middleweight Championship belt by defeating Strickland via unanimous decision at UFC 312 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Two defences. Two statements. Du Plessis was building one of South Africa’s greatest sporting legacies.

UFC 319: Title Lost to Khamzat Chimaev (August 16, 2025)

Du Plessis was on the cusp of becoming only the fourth middleweight to achieve three title defences in UFC history — joining Chris Weidman, Anderson Silva, and Israel Adesanya.

However, the night in Chicago belonged to Khamzat Chimaev.

Khamzat Chimaev landed a UFC record 529 total strikes, scored 12 takedowns, and had more than 21 minutes of control in his one-sided victory over Dricus du Plessis.

The judges scored the bout 50-44, 50-44, 50-44 in favour of Chimaev.

Despite the loss, du Plessis showed his champion’s character. “The man has incredible control on top,” du Plessis said. “It wasn’t a matter of strength, it wasn’t physical — it was almost like he knew what your next move was. He beat me fair and square. He was the better man tonight. I’ll be coming to get my belt back, but for now, it’s his. He deserves it.”

On August 16, 2025, he lost the UFC Middleweight Championship belt after losing to Khamzat Chimaev via unanimous decision at UFC 319 in Chicago, Illinois.

Complete UFC Fight Record

Date	Event	Opponent	Method	Result
Oct 10, 2020	UFC Fight Night 179	Markus Perez	TKO R1	Win
Mar 6, 2021	UFC 259	Trevin Giles	TKO R1	Win
Sep 4, 2021	UFC Fight Night 192	Marc-André Barriault	TKO R2	Win
Mar 19, 2022	UFC Fight Night 205	Žak Cummings	Sub R1	Win
Jun 4, 2022	UFC 275	Brad Tavares	TKO R3	Win
Sep 3, 2022	UFC 279	Darren Till	Sub R2	Win
Mar 4, 2023	UFC 285	Derek Brunson	TKO R2	Win
Jul 8, 2023	UFC 290	Robert Whittaker	TKO R2	Win
Jan 20, 2024	UFC 297	Sean Strickland	Split Dec R5	Win (TITLE)
Aug 17, 2024	UFC 305	Israel Adesanya	Sub R4	Win (Def.)
Feb 8, 2025	UFC 312	Sean Strickland	Unanimous Dec R5	Win (Def.)
Aug 16, 2025	UFC 319	Khamzat Chimaev	Unanimous Dec R5	Loss

Personal Life: The Man Behind “Stillknocks”

Fiancée Vasti Spiller

Dricus du Plessis keeps his personal life largely private. Fans know he has been in a devoted relationship with boxing coach and entrepreneur Vasti Spiller since 2022.

He proposed to his now-fiancée Vasti Spiller on his 31st birthday on January 14, 2025.

Spiller is a seasoned boxing coach at CIT Boxing and has been instrumental in sharpening du Plessis’s striking techniques, often working side by side in the gym. Beyond coaching, Vasti runs Baruch Photography — a successful couple-focused photography business.

Training Base: Team CIT MMA, Pretoria

CIT Performance Institute, located in Pretoria, South Africa, is the training ground for Dricus du Plessis and other aspiring MMA fighters. Team CIT MMA is Africa’s most dominant MMA team. His trainer is Morne Visser, who has guided his technical development through his rise to the UFC title.

Fighting Out of Hatfield, Pretoria

He competes fighting out of Hatfield, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. Pretoria is both his home and his training ground — the city where he turned a teenage passion into a world championship.