Dricus du Plessis (born 14 January 1994), also known by his initials DDP, is a South African professional mixed martial artist.

[14][15] He attended the University of Pretoria, where he studied agricultural economics but dropped out during the final year in order to pursue a career in mixed martial arts.

[4] Du Plessis had three amateur bouts before he made his professional debut in 2013,[11] compiling a 4–0 record before facing future UFC fighter and then-EFC Middleweight Champion Garreth McLellan at EFC Africa 33, losing via guillotine choke submission in the third round.

[16] In June 2015, du Plessis made his welterweight debut at EFC Africa 40 against Dino Bagattin, winning via a second-round rear-naked choke submission.

[21] The two would later rematch at KSW 45: De Fries vs. Bedorf in October of that year, with du Plessis losing via third-round knockout.

[25] Du Plessis made his promotional debut against Markus Perez on 11 October 2020 at UFC Fight Night 179.

[28] However, du Plessis pulled out due to visa issues which restricted his travel and was replaced by Roman Dolidze.

[34] The bouts were yet again shuffled after Nassourdine Imavov withdrew due to visa issues, with du Plessis now facing Kelvin Gastelum.

[35] However, Gastelum withdrew a week before the event due to an undisclosed injury and his bout with du Plessis was cancelled.

[58] Du Plessis made his second title defense in a rematch against former champion Sean Strickland on February 9, 2025 at UFC 312.

According to his coach Morne Visser, du Plessis had been competing in the UFC with "only 8% oxygen" intake through his nostrils.

[63][64][65] In 2024, it was revealed that Visser would use a taser on du Plessis and other fighters' feet as a training method, using the electric shock as punishment for underperformance in the gym.

[66] In February 2025, du Plessis stated at a press conference that the re-election of Donald Trump in America was "absolutely incredible.