DRICUS DU PLESSIS

Hailing from South Africa, Dricus du Plessis is an orthodox fighter representing Team CIT MMA. He established his reputation in the middleweight division after previously claiming championship titles across the EFC and KSW organizations. His journey to the top of the sport includes a background in amateur kickboxing, which informs his aggressive, unconventional striking approach. During his climb through the rankings, he earned high-profile victories against several former UFC champions, such as Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya, and Sean Strickland.

Entering the event with a professional record of 23-3-0, Du Plessis looks to recover from his most recent performance. In August 2025, he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev. Prior to that setback, he enjoyed a streak of three consecutive victories against Strickland, Adesanya, and Whittaker.