One to Watch at UFC 264: Dricus Du Plessis

Dricus Du Plessis (15-2) has never heard the final bell to end a fight, all 15 wins are finishes for the South African. He arrived on the UFC scene in October 2020 with his eighth first-round finish on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

“Stillknocks” still trains out of the same city he calls home, Hatfield in Pretoria, South Africa. Hatfield is a suburb amongst greater Pretoria, which lies in the northeastern tip of the country. Interestingly, Du Plessis now co-owns Team CIT, the gym where he started his martial arts career back in 1999.

Dricus first found judo and trained solely in the art until 2006 when he chose to expand his horizons. Wrestling took form for “Stillknocks” then quickly made way for kickboxing, where he seemingly found a true passion. At age 15 in 2009, he won the South African amateur K-1 kickboxing title. In 2012, Du Plessis became the first South African to win the World K-1 Amateur title before making his pro debut in MMA one year later.

Before the UFC came calling, Dricus Du Plessis captured two titles in South African promotion EFC and one in Poland with KSW. Two of the belts were snatched at Welterweight but those days seem to be behind “Stillknocks” as he’s taken his last four fights up at 185 lbs. the man of many talents has recently expanded his horizons further, starting his own brewery and restaurant back home in Hatfield.

If he can capture a big win on Saturday, 7/10, “Stillknocks” has a chance to send his UFC stock soaring. He finds himself on one of UFC’s biggest cards of the year so far with Conor McGregor facing Dustin Poirier for the third time. Even though his fight is slotted on the prelims, so many eyes are hovering over UFC news and a Du Plessis win can catapult him up the ranks. He battles Trevin “The Problem” Giles (14-2) and the prelim card starts at 8 PM ET.

Dricus “Stillknocks” Du Plessis | 15-2 | 6’1 185 lbs. | Age 27 | Reach 76” | Switch Stance | Fighting Out of Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa

Check out our highlights on fellow UFC 264 fighters >

Tai “Bam Bam” Tuivasa

Greg “The Prince of War”Hardy

“Sugar” Sean O’Malley

Ilia “El Matador” Topuria

Follow Dricus Du Plessis on Twitter > @dricusduplessis

Follow Tap In on Twitter > @TapInUFC

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