If you follow UFC fighters who thrive under pressure, Dricus “Stillknocks” du Plessis is already on your radar. He blitzed through the middleweight ranks, captured UFC gold, and headlined global events before meeting a new rival at the summit. This guide unpacks the full dricus du plessis record, his rise, title run, key UFC results, and signature moments that shaped a world-class career
Quick biography
- Full name: Dricus du Plessis
- Nickname: Stillknocks
- Division: Middleweight (Former champ)
- Pro MMA record: 23–3 (as of 16 August 2025)
- UFC record: 9–1
- Notable titles: Former UFC Middleweight Champion; former EFC Welterweight & Middleweight Champion; former KSW Welterweight Champion.
Dricus du Plessis record
The dricus du plessis record stands at 23 wins and 3 losses with a 9–1 run inside the UFC, a resume that includes a UFC title win, multiple defences, and a recent decision loss that ended his championship reign.
Early years | Building a finisher’s toolkit
Before the UFC spotlight, du Plessis carved a path through Africa and Europe. He claimed the EFC Welterweight title in 2016, added the EFC Middleweight title in 2017, and then lifted the KSW Welterweight title in 2018 by stopping Roberto Soldic, an elite scalp on the international scene. This phase honed the aggressive, attritional style that later troubled top UFC fighters.
His early setbacks came fast and taught hard lessons: a guillotine loss to Garreth McLellan in 2014 and a KO defeat in the 2018 Soldic rematch. Rather than stall, he evolved, rounded out his grappling, and sharpened the counter-led entries that became his calling card.
UFC arrival | Relentless momentum
Du Plessis made his UFC debut in October 2020 with a first-round KO of Markus Perez, then surged through UFC results that felt like a highlight reel, Trevin Giles by TKO, Brad Tavares by decision, and Darren Till by submission. Each win showed a different layer: punch power, gas tank, and squeeze from anywhere grappling.
He pushed higher with a corner-stoppage TKO over Derek Brunson and a statement TKO against former UFC champions calibre opponent Robert Whittaker. Those two victories set the stage for five-round championship nights.
Championship rise | Seizing the belt
In January 2024 at UFC 297, du Plessis edged Sean Strickland by split decision to become UFC Middleweight Champion, the first South African to hold a UFC title. The result validated the grind and placed dricus du plessis record among the era’s best middleweights.
Seven months later at UFC 305 in Perth, he defended against Israel Adesanya with a dramatic fourth-round submission, reinforcing the threat of his upper-body clinch attacks and back-take sequences.
He then met Sean Strickland again at UFC 312, winning a unanimous decision in a disciplined, champion’s performance. At that point, the dricus du plessis record inside the Octagon was pristine, an unbeaten UFC run capped by two title defences.
The setback | Losing the crown in Chicago
On 16 August 2025, at UFC 319 in Chicago, du Plessis dropped a unanimous decision to Khamzat Chimaev, surrendering his middleweight title after a wrestling-heavy challenge that smothered offence and stalled scrambles. It was his first UFC defeat and the third loss on the full dricus du plessis record.
The bout’s numbers and reactions told the story: relentless takedowns, clinch control, and extended top time from Chimaev, tactics widely reported across the MMA press in the immediate aftermath.
Full UFC Results
UFC 319 (16 Aug 2025) — vs Khamzat Chimaev — L, unanimous decision (lost the middleweight title).
UFC 312 (9 Feb 2025) — vs Sean Strickland — W, unanimous decision (title defence).
UFC 305 (18 Aug 2024) — vs Israel Adesanya — W, submission (R4, 3:38) (title defence).
UFC 297 (20 Jan 2024) — vs Sean Strickland — W, split decision (won middleweight title).
UFC 290 (8 Jul 2023) — vs Robert Whittaker — W, TKO (R2, 2:23).
UFC 285 (4 Mar 2023) — vs Derek Brunson — W, TKO (corner stoppage, R2, 4:59).
UFC 282 (10 Dec 2022) — vs Darren Till — W, submission (R3, 2:43).
UFC 276 (2 Jul 2022) — vs Brad Tavares — W, unanimous decision.
UFC 264 (10 Jul 2021) — vs Trevin Giles — W, KO (R2, 1:41).
UFC Fight Night (11 Oct 2020) — vs Markus Perez — W, KO (R1, 3:22).
These UFC results showcase a finisher who can also win gritty decisions at championship pace, qualities typical of modern UFC champions.
Dricus du Plessis losses | What they reveal
A complete dricus du plessis record must include the lessons baked into defeat:
- Garreth McLellan (Aug 2014, EFC 33), Lost by guillotine in Round 3. The bout highlighted positional risk-taking and foreshadowed a future obsession with guillotine offence and defence.
- Roberto Soldic (Oct 2018, KSW 45), Lost by KO in Round 3 after previously stopping Soldić six months earlier. The rematch underlined the danger of extended pocket exchanges against power southpaws.
- Khamzat Chimaev (Aug 2025, UFC 319), Lost a decision to sustained wrestling pressure and top control. That defeat showed where timing, hand-fighting, and wall-walk sequences must adapt against elite chain wrestlers.
Even with these setbacks, the dricus du plessis record remains elite: he captured a UFC belt, defended it, and proved championship stamina over 25-minute fights.
Style breakdown | Pressure, power, and persistence
Du Plessis fights on the front foot. He builds pressure behind feints, inside kicks, and planted right hands, then shifts to clinches where he hunts chokes and back exposure. His finishing map is balanced, KOs/TKOs (9) and submissions (11), which keeps opponents guessing. The Whittaker stoppage showed how he turns momentum with layered offence; the Adesanya submission showed how he converts attrition into late-fight grappling dominance.
Defensively, the Chimaev bout spotlighted a to-do list: earlier pummelling for underhooks, faster transitions off the fence, and proactive stand-ups to deny extended control. Address those details, and the dricus du plessis record can surge again in title contention.
Standing among UFC fighters and champions
Du Plessis became the first South African UFC champion, then held a top spot in the pound for pound conversation during 2024-2025. Even after UFC 319, his achievements place him among the division’s premier contenders. As of 24 June 2025, he was ranked #4 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound list, evidence of how highly peers and analysts still rate his body of work.
When you assess the middleweight landscape, his resume, title win over Strickland, defences against Adesanya and Strickland again, compares favourably with other recent UFC champions in terms of quality of opposition and activity.
What’s next for DDP?
After UFC 319, discussion quickly turned to what comes next, an immediate rematch, a top-five eliminator, or a strategic reset while the new champion fields his first defence. Media chatter has floated names like Anthony Hernandez and the winner of Nassourdine Imavov vs Caio Borralho as possible players in the title picture, depending on how matchmaking unfolds. Regardless, du Plessis remains one win away from another crack at gold.
Career highlights | Defining the dricus du plessis record
- First South African UFC champion, a historic breakthrough for the region.
- Win streak into the title, undefeated in the UFC from 2020 to early 2025 before UFC 319.
- Finishing pedigree, 20 finishes across KO/TKO and submissions in his 23 wins outside and inside the UFC spotlight.
- Championship learning curve, five-round composure vs Strickland (twice) and adaptability to submit Adesanya late.
Complete fight timeline
- 2013–2017: EFC breakout; wins welterweight and middleweight titles.
- 2018: KSW run at welterweight; splits series with Roberto Soldić, capturing and then losing the belt.
- 2020–2023: UFC surge, Perez, Giles, Tavares, Till, Brunson, Whittaker.
- Jan 2024: Wins UFC Middleweight Championship vs Strickland.
- Aug 2024 & Feb 2025: Title defences vs Adesanya and Strickland.
- Aug 2025: Drops the belt to Chimaev in Chicago.
FAQ‘s
How many losses are on the dricus du plessis record?
Three, McLellan (submission, 2014), Soldić (KO, 2018), Chimaev (decision, 2025). Three, McLellan (submission, 2014), Soldić (KO, 2018), Chimaev (decision, 2025).
What is his UFC record?
9–1, with championship wins and defences before the UFC 319 loss.
Who did he beat to win the UFC title?
Sean Strickland at UFC 297 (split decision) on 20 January 2024.
Did he defend the belt?
Yes, against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and Sean Strickland at UFC 312.
Final word
The dricus du plessis record captures a complete athlete: fast starts, heavy hands, and a submission game that wins late. He stormed to the title, defended it twice, and learned from an elite wrestling test at UFC 319. With that experience banked, he remains a live threat to reclaim middleweight gold.
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