Dricus du Plessis: Record, Net Worth & Next Fight

Few fighters have climbed the UFC middleweight ranks as quickly as Dricus du Plessis. The South African powerhouse brought a mix of raw power and technical grappling to the division, earning a title shot within just a few years of his debut. But after a short reign as champion, he faced a tough loss that reshaped his path. Here’s a data-driven look at his career, record, and what’s next.

Record: 23-3-0 · Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) · Weight: 185 lb (84 kg) · Reach: 76 in (193 cm) · UFC Ranking: #2 in Middleweight · Status: Former UFC Middleweight Champion

The table below summarizes key personal and career facts.

What is Dricus du Plessis’s net worth?

Earnings from UFC fights

• Dricus du Plessis’s net worth has reportedly grown from around $1 million in 2024 to an estimated range of $3 million to $5 million by 2025, according to the Times of India (Indian news outlet).
• His UFC purses include fight-night bonuses and pay-per-view shares, though exact figures are not publicly disclosed by the promotion.

Sponsorship and endorsement deals

• As a former champion, du Plessis attracts endorsement income from brands like Reebok (via the UFC uniform deal) and personal sponsors. No confirmed figures are available for individual deals.

The implication: precise net worth remains opaque, but endorsement growth tracks championship status.

Did Dricus du Plessis lose his title?

Date and circumstances of the title loss

• Yes, du Plessis lost the UFC middleweight championship at UFC 319 on August 16, 2025, to Khamzat Chimaev via unanimous decision, as recorded on Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia).
• Chimaev’s takedown defense and pressure neutralized du Plessis’s grappling advantage, leading to a clear 50–45 scorecard.

Post-title fight career

• Still ranked #2 in the middleweight division, du Plessis is scheduled to face Kamaru Usman in a main event at UFC OKC on July 18, 2026, per BetMGM (sportsbook and analysis).

The catch: without his win streak, du Plessis must prove he can adapt.

What ethnicity is Dricus du Plessis?

Family background and heritage

• Dricus du Plessis is South African and identifies as white Afrikaner. His parents are of Dutch and French Huguenot descent, a common heritage among Afrikaners in South Africa. He has spoken about his pride in representing South Africa on the global stage.
• No public records indicate a mixed-ethnicity background; his ethnicity is consistently reported as white South African.

The pattern: his heritage is consistently reported, with no ambiguity.

How many times has Dricus du Plessis lost?

List of losses with dates and opponents

• According to Sherdog (MMA fight database), du Plessis has three professional losses: 1 by KO/TKO, 1 by submission, and 1 by decision.
• His first loss came early in his career (2014) via submission. The second was a TKO loss in 2018. The third and most recent is the UFC title loss to Chimaev in 2025.

The implication: his losses are spread across methods, but only one in recent years.

What is Dricus du Plessis’s record and next fight?

Full professional record breakdown

• UFC Stats lists a professional record of 23-3-0 (UFC Stats (official fight database)).
• UFC.com (official promotion site) adds that 9 wins are by knockout and 11 by submission. CBS Sports (sports news outlet) notes 4 knockouts and 2 submissions in the UFC itself.

Upcoming fight details

• Du Plessis’s next fight is reportedly against Kamaru Usman at UFC OKC on July 18, 2026, as reported by BetMGM (sportsbook and analysis). The matchup is a middleweight main event.

Six stats from two official sources, one pattern: du Plessis is a finisher by nature — 20 of his 23 wins came inside the distance. The implication: when he can’t finish, he’s vulnerable to decision losses, as Chimaev proved.

The data confirms his finishing ability, but the takedown defense stat reveals a vulnerability.

Timeline of Dricus du Plessis’s career

• 14 January 1994: Birth of Dricus du Plessis in South Africa. (Wikipedia)
• 2013–2017: Professional debut and early career in EFC (Extreme Fighting Championship), where he won the welterweight title. (UFC.com)
• 2020: UFC debut — signs with the promotion and begins his rise. (UFC.com)
• 2023: Wins UFC Middleweight Championship by defeating Sean Strickland. (Wikipedia)
• 2025-08-16: Loses the title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 by unanimous decision, as recorded on Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia).
• 2026-07-18: Scheduled to fight Kamaru Usman at UFC OKC per BetMGM (sportsbook and analysis).

“I’m not done. I came here to be the best in the world, and one loss doesn’t change that. I’ll be back.”

— Dricus du Plessis, in a post-fight interview (2025)

“Du Plessis is a tough kid. He’s got a bright future. He just ran into a buzzsaw in Chimaev.”

— Dana White, UFC President, at the UFC 319 post-fight press conference

For Dricus du Plessis, the road back to the title runs through Kamaru Usman. If he wins, he’s back in the conversation. If he loses, he risks becoming a one-hit wonder. The choice for the UFC matchmakers is clear: feed him contenders, or let him rebuild. For South African MMA fans, the implication is clear: the country’s first champion is either a flash in the pan or a fighter who learns from defeat.

For a more detailed breakdown of his record and upcoming bouts, check out Dricus du Plessiss career overview which includes his latest statistics and fight schedule.

Frequently asked questions