Dricus Du Plessis

Dricus Du Plessis, fighting out of a switch stance at 6'1" and 185 pounds, holds a 23-3 professional record and has won his last eight consecutive fights. The South African middleweight operates as a well-rounded mixed martial artist, landing 5.18 strikes per minute with 48% accuracy while absorbing 4.33 strikes per minute and defending 52% of incoming strikes.

Du Plessis averages 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes at 51% accuracy, though his 34% takedown defense suggests vulnerability to grappling pressure, while maintaining a submission average of 0.7 per 15 minutes. His recent resume demonstrates finishing capability across multiple methods: he secured a second-round KO over Derek Brunson in March 2023, dismantled Robert Whittaker with a devastating 1:23 second-round knockout in July 2023, and most recently defeated Sean Strickland via unanimous decision in February 2025 after their split-decision encounter in January.

Du Plessis has established himself as a credible middleweight contender through consistent performances against ranked opposition and varied finishing techniques, though his takedown defense remains an exploitable weakness against elite grapplers.