UFC
Du Plessis' record in the UFC: Are there any fighters have never lost?
As Dricus Du Plessis prepares for the fight of his life against Israel Adesanya, we take a good look at South Africa’s incandescent champ.
Dricus Du Plessis is just days away from the biggest showdown of his career at UFC 305, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at him. The man is calm, cool, and collected, and he’s got that easy smile that tells you he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be. Of course, there’s a new addition to his routine this time around – he’s not just any fighter in the mix. He’s the UFC middleweight champion. It’s a title that comes with some perks – a nicer hotel room, a flashy Lamborghini for cruising around – but for Du Plessis, it’s still all about the work.
“I’ve had a couple of proper fight weeks, but now I’m champion,” Du Plessis says, grinning like a kid who just found a golden ticket. “It feels great. For me, it’s not very different. In terms of media scheduling, training, everything is the same. I have a recipe; it’s been working great.” And that’s the thing about Du Plessis – he’s got this unshakable belief in his process. Sure, the stakes are higher, but he’s not letting the title get to his head. It’s still business as usual, with just a little extra shine.
Back home in South Africa, Du Plessis is more than just a fighter; he’s a symbol of pride. His country has been with him every step of the way, even when they couldn’t physically make the 24-hour trek to Toronto to watch him claim the title at UFC 297. “They wanted me to win just as bad as I wanted myself to win,” he reflects, the emotion clear in his voice. “That’s our country. We’re so proud of our country and when we achieve something.” It’s clear that for Du Plessis, it’s about more than just personal glory. He’s carrying the hopes of a nation every time he steps into the Octagon.
Now, with the belt firmly around his waist, Du Plessis faces his toughest test yet: Israel Adesanya, a two-time middleweight champion and one of the greatest fighters the sport has ever seen. Adesanya’s resume reads like a who’s who of MMA legends, and a win over “The Last Stylebender” would solidify Du Plessis’ place at the top of the middleweight division. “His career can’t be argued,” Du Plessis acknowledges. “He’s one of the greatest fighters ever. Not in the middleweight division, not in the UFC, but in MMA, one of the best to ever do it.”
Their rivalry has been simmering for years, coming to a boil at UFC 290 when Du Plessis took down Robert Whittaker to earn his shot at the title. Adesanya, then the reigning champ, watched from the stands, and the tension between them was palpable. They’ve locked eyes a couple of times since, most notably at a UFC 305 press conference where they stared each other down for what felt like an eternity. But Du Plessis insists it’s all business. “It’s never, ever personal,” he says. “It never has been, and it never will be. There’s nothing that can be said, there’s nothing that can be done that’s going to have an effect on me, mentally or emotionally.”
Despite his dominance in the UFC, Du Plessis has his fair share of critics, who often take jabs at his unorthodox fighting style. He’s been called a “gorilla on roller skates” – a nickname that’s more amusing than insulting to him. “It’s easy to be on the outside and looking at my fights and going, ‘This is not good, he got lucky,’” he says with a shrug. “I’ve been lucky quite a few times. I’ve held a title and multiple titles in every organization I’ve ever fought in. I’m currently the No. 1 middleweight on planet Earth.”
Du Plessis knows his style isn’t for everyone, but he’s not about to change what’s been working so well. “What makes myself different is I don’t try to fight like anybody else,” he explains. “I don’t try to adhere to the norm of this is how you should look because that’s the critique I’ve been getting for my whole UFC career, that it doesn’t look right. A gorilla on roller skates is what somebody said.” He pauses, then smiles, “I mean, that’s a pretty good comparison.” Because in the end, it’s not about looking good – it’s about winning, and he’s done plenty of that.
As Du Plessis heads into UFC 305, he’s got a clear vision of how this is all going to play out. He’s ready for whatever Adesanya throws at him, and he’s not planning on letting the fight go the distance. “If the Izzy shows up that we’ve been seeing, I’ll be able to get him out of there in three rounds, for sure,” he predicts. Confident, composed, and with the pride of a nation behind him, Du Plessis is more than ready to defend his title.
Dricus Du Plessis has won all six of his fights in the UFC. His record is 21-2, suffering two losses before joining the premier promotion.
Here are a full list of undefeated UFC fighters.
| Fighter | UFC Record |
|---|---|
| Shavkat Rakhmonov | 18–0 (8 KO, 10 SUB) |
| Movsar Evloev | 18–0 (3 KO, 4 SUB) |
| Umar Nurmagomedov | 18–0 (2 KO, 7 SUB) |
| Michael Morales | 16–0 (11 KO, 1 SUB) |
| Daniel Marcos | 16–0 (1 NC, 8 KO) |
| Tatsuro Taira | 16–0 (5 KO, 7 SUB) |
| Ilia Topuria | 15–0 (5 KO, 8 SUB) |
| Jean Matsumoto | 15–0 (3 KO, 6 SUB) |
| Ian Machado Garry | 15–0 (7 KO, 1 SUB) |
| Aliaskhab Khizriev | 14–0 (1 NC, 5 KO, 5 SUB) |
| Lerone Murphy | 14–0–1 (7 KO) |
| Azamat Murzakanov | 14–0 (10 KO, 1 SUB) |
| Sharabutdin Magomedov | 14–0 (11 KO) |
| Khamzat Chimaev | 13–0 (6 KO, 5 SUB) |
| Muhammad Mokaev | 13–0 (1 NC, 2 KO, 6 SUB) |
| Rafael Ramos Estevam | 12–0 (4 KO, 3 SUB) |
| Farid Basharat | 12–0 (1 KO, 6 SUB) |
| Tatiana Suarez | 10–0 (2 KO, 4 SUB) |
| Oumar Sy | 10–0 (4 KO, 4 SUB) |
| Rei Tsuruya | 10–0 (4 KO, 4 SUB) |
| Mick Parkin | 10–0 (5 KO, 1 SUB) |
| Hyder Amil | 10–0 (6 KO, 1 SUB) |
| Nurullo Aliev | 9–0 (2 KO) |
| Hyun Sung Park | 9–0 (4 KO, 4 SUB) |
| Rinya Nakamura | 9–0 (5 KO, 1 SUB) |
| André Lima | 9–0 (5 KO) |
| Magomed Gadzhiyasulov | 9–0 (4 KO, 1 SUB) |
| Payton Talbott | 9–0 (7 KO, 1 SUB) |
| Jhonata Diniz | 8–0 (7 KO) |
| Danny Barlow | 8–0 (5 KO, 1 SUB) |
| Josefine Lindgren Knutsson | 8–0 (1 KO) |
| Clayton Carpenter | 7–0 (2 KO, 3 SUB) |