DRICUS DU PLESSIS

Representing South Africa, Dricus du Plessis competes in the middleweight division out of Team CIT MMA. The orthodox fighter previously captured championships in the Extreme Fighting Championship and Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki. Upon entering the UFC, he established himself as a titleholder, marking the first time a South African athlete claimed a belt in the organization. His career is characterized by an aggressive approach that relies on unconventional striking techniques alongside grappling to exert pressure on his adversaries. Throughout his journey, he has secured significant victories against prominent former champions like Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, and Kamaru Usman.

Entering this event, du Plessis holds a professional record of 24-3-0. His most recent appearance resulted in a unanimous decision victory over Kamaru Usman in July 2026. Prior to that, he experienced a unanimous decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev in August 2025. This followed a three-fight winning streak involving a unanimous decision win against Sean Strickland, a submission finish of Israel Adesanya, and a split decision triumph over Sean Strickland.