Dricus du Plessis is a South African mixed martial artist born on January 14, 1994, in Hatfield, Pretoria. He turned professional in MMA in 2013 and became the champion in EFC Africa and KSW. Nicknamed ‘Stllknocks’, he is a fierce fighter, having an aggressive approach in the octagon, with a very high finishing rate.
du Plessis made his UFC debut in October 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen, knocking out Markus Perez. He has been riding high in the middleweight division since then, with some admirable wins against top fighters like Robert Whittaker, Darren Till, and Sean Strickland. His knockout win over Whittaker at UFC 290 on July 8, 2023, was particularly impressive and solidified his status as a top contender. On January 20, 2024, Du Plessis became the first South African-born champion to win a UFC championship by winning the UFC Middleweight Championship against Sean Strickland via split decision at UFC 297 in Toronto. As of February 2025, Dricus du Plessis maintains a record of 22 wins to two losses (22-2-0), and he is currently in camp to defend his title for the second time against Sean Strickland, at UFC 312 on February 8, 2025.
Dricus Du Plessis Coach
Dricus du Plessis’ head coach is Morne Visser, who was instrumental in his development as a championship-caliber fighter. He is the head coach at the CIT Performance Institute in South Africa, where du Plessis has spent years honing his skills, which eventually led him to the UFC. The kind of training under Visser is characterized by technical precision with mental toughness, which has been the main ingredient for du Plessis' ascend up the middleweight ladder.
The duo share a bond that has received attention to a great extent, especially when footage of them celebrating victories by embracing hugs and kisses went online and sparked some discussion. While this behavior has raised eyebrows by some, du Plessis made it clear that it is part of their cultural background where such gestures are normal expressions of respect and affection.
Where does Dricus du Plessis train?
Dricus du Plessis trains at the CIT Performance Institute (Team CIT MMA) in Pretoria, South Africa. Team CIT MMA, led by head coach Morne Visser, is also the training grounds for the young UFC bantamweight prospect, Cameron Saaiman.
*Last updated on February 2025.
FAQs on Dricus du Plessis' coach
A. Dricus du Plessis is coached by Morne Visser.
A. Dricus du Plessis trains at the CIT Performance Institute, a gym in Pretoria, South Africa.
A. Dricus du Plessis is managed by Daniel Rubenstein.
A. As of February 2025, Dricus Du Plessis is 31 years old.
