Can Dricus Du Plessis survive the Usman onslaught?

Dricus Du Plessis fights like a guy trying to assemble IKEA furniture without the manual at 4 a.m.: it’s ugly, it reeks of chaos, but somehow, it stays standing in the end. After defending his belt against Israel Adesanya, the Pretoria powerhouse needs to prove that his "moving company" style still has a place at the top. Facing him is Kamaru Usman, an absolute Welterweight legend looking for a second wind in the middleweight division. A clash of titans that smells like sweat, lukewarm beer, and blood.

🥊 Quick Stats

Name: Dricus Du Plessis
Record: 22-2-0
Fun Fact: Fought with only 8% nasal capacity before getting a brand-new nose.

The High-Five Block

Last 5 results:

• ❌ Khamzat Chimaev — Unanimous decision UFC 319
• ✅ Sean Strickland — Unanimous decision UFC 312
• ✅ Israel Adesanya — Submission (R4) UFC 305
• ✅ Sean Strickland — Split decision UFC 297
• ✅ Robert Whittaker — KO/TKO (R2) UFC 290

The Origin Story

Born in Pretoria in the rugged heat of Gauteng, Dricus grew up in a country where rugby is a religion and biltong is a nutritional staple. At 14, instead of tackling wingers on frozen grass, he chose kickboxing. With a WAKO amateur world title in his pocket, he pivoted to MMA. From his years of tight scrums and massive tackles, he kept a tank-like frame and an ultra-physical game. At Team CIT, they don't teach you to dodge with grace: they teach you to charge through the storm to rip the other guy's head off. It’s rustic, it’s Afrikaner, and it’s diabolically effective.

The ugliest heist in UFC history

When DDP first hit the UFC, boxing and jiu-jitsu purists cried foul. His guard? A sieve. His footwork? A drunk cowboy on a trampoline. Yet, the guy keeps stacking bodies. He put Robert Whittaker to sleep when no one gave him a chance, snatched the belt from Sean Strickland in an ultra-violent trench war, and then submitted Israel Adesanya after draining him physically. Dricus couldn't care less about aesthetics. He imposes a hellish pace (6.49 significant strikes per minute) and turns every fight into a supermarket parking lot brawl. A magic formula that works wonders, even if Usman's elite wrestling might come to remind him that gravity is real.

Useless Knowledge

• The nose of salvation: For most of his career, his nasal septum was so deviated that he was basically fighting while holding his breath. Since his surgery before the Whittaker fight, his lungs finally found the "ON" switch.
• Diplomacy by fists: He dubbed himself the "real African champion" on the grounds that he lives and trains in South Africa, unlike exiles Adesanya and Usman. A punchline that nearly sparked a diplomatic incident and adds a special flavor to his showdown with Kamaru.
• The panic guillotine: As soon as his cardio starts to dip or he feels cornered, Dricus jumps for a guillotine. It’s technically atrocious, it fails 9 times out of 10, but it’s his security blanket.

The MMX Eye

Let’s not beat around the bush: this fight against Kamaru Usman is a massive trap for DDP. The South African has a stat that sends shivers down the spine before facing an elite NCAA Division II wrestler: only 40% takedown defense. While others have managed to take him down, Usman knows exactly how to pin him against the cage to drain his gas tank.

But watch out, "The Nigerian Nightmare" isn't getting any younger and his knees are creaking. Dricus is a true middleweight—massive, heavy, and ultra-powerful. If he manages to survive the first two rounds while limiting the damage on the ground, his striking volume (6.49/min) and physical grit will eventually smother an Usman moving up in weight. For your MMX picks, don't bet against the Pretoria brute. We’re going with a Dricus win by late TKO, through attrition, after an ultra-gritty fight.

Dricus Du Plessis might be the most atypical fighter in the UFC, but his ability to turn a technical fight into a war of attrition remains his best asset. Do you think he'll win his next fight? Come make your picks and challenge your buddies on MMX.

📋 On the same card: Check out all the profiles for UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman