Current UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis‘ MMA career began with an unusual victory at EFC Africa 21, where he made his professional debut as a 20-year-old K1 specialist against Tshikangu Makuebo.
The bout started intensely with Makuebo immediately testing the young Du Plessis with powerful right hands, giving the future champion a stark welcome to MMA. Both engaged in striking exchanges, with Du Plessis showing his quick kicks and Makuebo finding success with his jab.
However, the contest came to an abrupt and unexpected end at 1:18 of the first round. The finish came when Makuebo appeared to suffer a severe knee injury during a guard jump, causing him to verbally submit. Referee Ian Panar noticed the injury and called a stop to the action, awarding Du Plessis the TKO victory.
At the time of the bout, Du Plessis was training with Team CIT and had high expectations surrounding his debut, backed by a strong team including welterweight champion and lightweight contender Deon Mayard. Despite his youth, Du Plessis’ kickboxing background and training with some of the best stars in the country had prepared him well for his transition to MMA.
This victory marked the beginning of what would become a remarkable career trajectory for Du Plessis, who would eventually rise to become the UFC middleweight champion.
While initially known for his striking, Du Plessis proved his grappling prowess when he went viral for single-handedly submitting all five opponents from the Gracie Barra team at Quintet South Africa. The competition followed a team-based grappling format, with each fighter facing a fresh opponent until submitted or time expired.
Du Plessis, coming off a recent MMA match, admitted he wasn’t in peak condition, so he devised a strategy to finish each opponent quickly. The Gracie Barra team featured three black belts, but Du Plessis systematically dismantled them, submitting the first three black belts with ease before eliminating the final two competitors.
“I wasn’t in great shape. But I just went for it. First guy comes in, I got subs, I subbed five of them myself. That was crazy.”
The display of grappling dominance cemented Du Plessis as a complete mixed martial artist, showcasing his ability to control wherever they took place.
Du Plessis’ UFC journey was far from easy, but he quickly made waves after joining the promotion as a former KSW and EFC champion. Initially expected to face Israel Adesanya for the title, Du Plessis had to wait as Adesanya lost his belt to Sean Strickland. In January 2024, Du Plessis seized the opportunity by defeating Strickland at UFC 297 to claim the middleweight championship.
This set up a long-anticipated clash with Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth, where the former champ aimed to reclaim the title for the third time.
The action began with an intense staredown and an electric atmosphere. Du Plessis mixed in leg kicks early, responding aggressively to Adesanya’s attacks. Despite sustaining a cut, he pressed forward, initiating clinches and grappling exchanges. Adesanya defended well, keeping the fight at range, but Du Plessis persisted.
In the second round, Du Plessis went for a choke, forcing Adesanya to give up his back. However, he lost position, allowing Adesanya to escape. As the action wore on, body shots seemed to sap Du Plessis’ energy, but he continued to charge forward, finding success with his left hook.
The defining moment came in the fourth round. After a stumble from Adesanya, Du Plessis exploded forward, landing multiple strikes that sent his opponent crashing to the mat. Capitalizing on the moment, he took Adesanya’s back and locked in a rear-naked choke, securing a submission victory at 3:38 of Round 4.
The finish, however, was criticized by some BJJ purists for Du Plessis’ crossed ankles, a basic mistake in submission grappling. Despite this, the victory solidified his reign as the UFC middleweight champion.
With Adesanya out of the way, Du Plessis now prepares to defend his title in a rematch against Strickland at UFC 312.
