Dricus du Plessis

Dricus du Plessis became Africa’s first UFC champion in 2024 by stopping Sean Strickland in Johannesburg with an aggressive brawling style and iron chin. His fights average 20% more total strikes than the middleweight norm, fueled by a cardio output that outpaces #8 Ilia Topuria's pace. With a 85% takedown defense rate, du Plessis’s resilience and electric promos make him one of the sport’s most talked-about figures, though his submission rate lags at 12%.