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Dricus Du Plessis

Middleweight · REAL v1.0 (registered) #2; v1.1 (shadow) #2

Descriptive profile. The resume rank is what has been earned; these statistics are context, not a prediction. A test on Oct 20, 2026 found that career statistics add nothing reliable to age, layoff and experience as predictors of the next result (experiments/REGISTER.md, EXP-2026-10-20-14).

Weight band 2-2: the 10th to 90th percentile of his position across weight vectors drawn near the 70/30 weights (the position does not depend on the weights). Rating 1,783, deviation 122: measured from 11 UFC bouts; a one-bout newcomer sits near 290.

Age 32 (born 1994-01-14) · Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) · Reach 76 in (193 cm) · Stance Switch · 106 days since last bout (2026-07-18) · Last five 4-1 · Streak W1

Why he is ranked here

Rating 1,783 is the division's highest; the ledger stands at +7.7 (+8.7 from quality wins, less 1.0 for blowout losses; losses count for three years); 8 quality wins in 15 years, 7 over top-10 opponents, which makes him entrenched; no form penalty (4-1 last five). Score +1.17 = +0.66 (rating term, 70% weight) +0.51 (ledger term, 30% weight) -0.00 (form penalty); score order put him at #1; the head-to-head rule (the winner of the most recent meeting within three years moves directly above the loser when ranked at most three places behind, six within a year) placed him #2.

TermValueDetail
Score+1.1770% rating term + 30% ledger term - form penalty
Rating term+0.66resume rating 1,783, scaled against the division's interdecile range
Ledger term+0.51quality ledger +7.7: +8.7 QW +0.0 proof -1.0 blowout -0.0 weak
Form penalty0.00last five 4-1
Quality wins, 15 years87 over top-10 opponents, 8 over top-15; entrenched
Placementscore order #1; head-to-head -> #2v1.0 (registered)
Shadow board v1.1#2score +1.22; score order #1; placement rules -> #2

Rules, weights and worked examples: methodology.

Last ten bouts

DateEventOpponentOpp. official rankResultMethodRoundModel p
2026-07-18UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. UsmanKamaru Usman#9Wunanimous decision5 (5:00)58%
2025-08-16UFC 319: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev (title)Khamzat Chimaev#3Lunanimous decision5 (5:00)48%
2025-02-08UFC 312: Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 (title)Sean Strickland#1Wunanimous decision5 (5:00)60%
2024-08-17UFC 305: Du Plessis vs. Adesanya (title)Israel Adesanya#2Wsubmission4 (3:38)65%
2024-01-20UFC 297: Strickland vs. Du Plessis (title)Sean StricklandCWsplit decision5 (5:00)65%
2023-07-08UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. RodriguezRobert Whittaker#2WKO/TKO2 (2:23)48%
2023-03-04UFC 285: Jones vs. GaneDerek Brunson#5WKO/TKO2 (4:59)49%
2022-12-10UFC 282: Blachowicz vs. AnkalaevDarren Till#10Wsubmission3 (2:43)60%
2022-07-02UFC 276: Adesanya vs. CannonierBrad Tavares#12Wunanimous decision3 (5:00)56%
2021-07-10UFC 264: Poirier vs. McGregor 3Trevin GilesunrankedWKO/TKO2 (1:41)41%

Opp. official rank = the UFC media-panel rank of the opponent on the date (C champion, #1 to #15, unranked; n/a before Feb 2013 or where no official board existed). Model p = the predictive model's pre-fight win chance for him (frozen performance-adjusted Elo; bouts before 2020 were in its tuning sample). Linked opponents have a profile.

Career statistics

Through 2026-10-31, UFC bouts only. Percentile = share of the 79 board fighters at Middleweight at or below this value; high is a position in the division, not a verdict.

Output
Significant strikes landed per minute5.21(80th percentile at Middleweight)
Significant strike accuracy49%(43rd percentile at Middleweight)
Knockdowns scored per 15 minutes0.35(57th percentile at Middleweight)
Share of wins by finish60%(39th percentile at Middleweight)
Defence and damage
Significant strikes absorbed per minute4.24(72nd percentile at Middleweight)
Significant strike defence54%(66th percentile at Middleweight)
Knockdowns suffered per 15 minutes0.00(34th percentile at Middleweight)
Significant strikes absorbed, career736(84th percentile at Middleweight)
KO/TKO losses0(39th percentile at Middleweight)
Submission losses0(59th percentile at Middleweight)
KO/TKO losses per bout over 10 years, each weighted down by the finisher's danger0.000(39th percentile at Middleweight)
Grappling
Takedowns landed per 15 minutes1.90(67th percentile at Middleweight)
Takedown defence50%(25th percentile at Middleweight)
Share of cage time in control10%(29th percentile at Middleweight)
Share of significant strikes landed in the clinch or on the ground15%(33rd percentile at Middleweight)
Stylemixed (3.9 takedown attempts per 15 min; 10% control)
Career stage
Age32.8(51st percentile at Middleweight)
Age at UFC debut26.7(32nd percentile at Middleweight)
Years since UFC debut6.1(70th percentile at Middleweight)
UFC bouts11(72nd percentile at Middleweight)
Cage time, minutes174(84th percentile at Middleweight)
Bouts per year, last three years1.7(44th percentile at Middleweight)
Days since last bout106(61st percentile at Middleweight)

Board position since Oct 2023

C24681020252026Oct 2023Oct 20262023-10-06: #2, Middleweight2023-10-13: #2, Middleweight2023-10-20: #2, Middleweight2023-11-03: #2, Middleweight2023-11-10: #2, Middleweight2023-11-17: #2, Middleweight2023-12-01: #2, Middleweight2023-12-08: #2, Middleweight2023-12-15: #2, Middleweight2024-01-12: #2, Middleweight2024-01-19: #2, Middleweight2024-02-02: title holder, Middleweight2024-02-09: title holder, Middleweight2024-02-16: title holder, Middleweight2024-02-23: title holder, Middleweight2024-03-01: title holder, Middleweight2024-03-08: title holder, Middleweight2024-03-15: title holder, Middleweight2024-03-22: title holder, Middleweight2024-03-29: title holder, Middleweight2024-04-05: title holder, Middleweight2024-04-12: title holder, Middleweight2024-04-26: title holder, Middleweight2024-05-03: title holder, Middleweight2024-05-10: title holder, Middleweight2024-05-17: title holder, Middleweight2024-05-31: title holder, Middleweight2024-06-07: title holder, Middleweight2024-06-14: title holder, Middleweight2024-06-21: title holder, Middleweight2024-06-28: title holder, Middleweight2024-07-12: title holder, Middleweight2024-07-19: title holder, Middleweight2024-07-26: title holder, Middleweight2024-08-02: title holder, Middleweight2024-08-09: title holder, Middleweight2024-08-16: title holder, Middleweight2024-08-23: title holder, Middleweight2024-09-06: title holder, Middleweight2024-09-13: title holder, Middleweight2024-09-27: title holder, Middleweight2024-10-04: title holder, Middleweight2024-10-11: title holder, Middleweight2024-10-18: title holder, Middleweight2024-10-25: title holder, Middleweight2024-11-01: title holder, Middleweight2024-11-08: title holder, Middleweight2024-11-15: title holder, Middleweight2024-11-22: title holder, Middleweight2024-12-06: title holder, Middleweight2024-12-13: title holder, Middleweight2025-01-10: title holder, Middleweight2025-01-17: title holder, Middleweight2025-01-31: title holder, Middleweight2025-02-07: title holder, Middleweight2025-02-14: title holder, Middleweight2025-02-21: title holder, Middleweight2025-02-28: title holder, Middleweight2025-03-07: title holder, Middleweight2025-03-14: title holder, Middleweight2025-03-21: title holder, Middleweight2025-03-28: title holder, Middleweight2025-04-04: title holder, Middleweight2025-04-11: title holder, Middleweight2025-04-25: title holder, Middleweight2025-05-02: title holder, Middleweight2025-05-09: title holder, Middleweight2025-05-16: title holder, Middleweight2025-05-30: title holder, Middleweight2025-06-06: title holder, Middleweight2025-06-13: title holder, Middleweight2025-06-20: title holder, Middleweight2025-06-27: title holder, Middleweight2025-07-11: title holder, Middleweight2025-07-18: title holder, Middleweight2025-07-25: title holder, Middleweight2025-08-01: title holder, Middleweight2025-08-08: title holder, Middleweight2025-08-15: title holder, Middleweight2025-08-22: #1, Middleweight2025-09-05: #1, Middleweight2025-09-12: #1, Middleweight2025-09-26: #1, Middleweight2025-10-03: #1, Middleweight2025-10-10: #1, Middleweight2025-10-17: #1, Middleweight2025-10-24: #1, Middleweight2025-10-31: #1, Middleweight2025-11-07: #1, Middleweight2025-11-14: #1, Middleweight2025-11-21: #1, Middleweight2025-12-05: #1, Middleweight2025-12-12: #1, Middleweight2026-01-23: #1, Middleweight2026-01-30: #1, Middleweight2026-02-06: #1, Middleweight2026-02-20: #1, Middleweight2026-02-27: #1, Middleweight2026-03-06: #1, Middleweight2026-03-13: #1, Middleweight2026-03-20: #1, Middleweight2026-03-27: #1, Middleweight2026-04-03: #1, Middleweight2026-04-10: #1, Middleweight2026-04-17: #1, Middleweight2026-04-24: #1, Middleweight2026-05-01: #1, Middleweight2026-05-08: #1, Middleweight2026-05-15: #2, Middleweight2026-05-29: #2, Middleweight2026-06-05: #2, Middleweight2026-06-13: #2, Middleweight2026-06-19: #2, Middleweight2026-06-26: #2, Middleweight2026-07-10: #2, Middleweight2026-07-17: #2, Middleweight2026-07-24: #2, Middleweight2026-07-31: #2, Middleweight2026-08-07: #2, Middleweight2026-08-14: #2, Middleweight2026-08-21: #2, Middleweight2026-08-28: #2, Middleweight2026-09-04: #2, Middleweight2026-09-11: #2, Middleweight2026-09-18: #2, Middleweight2026-09-25: #2, Middleweight2026-09-26: #2, Middleweight2026-10-03: #2, Middleweight2026-10-10: #2, Middleweight2026-10-17: #2, Middleweight2026-10-24: #2, Middleweight2026-10-31: #2, Middleweight#2

Position on the registered v1.0 board at each weekly snapshot (C = title holder or reserved, drawn at the top; lower is better).

Predictive rating by bout

1,5001,6001,7001,8001,9002,0002022202320242025Oct 2020Oct 20262020-10-10: 1,576 (W vs Markus Perez)2021-07-10: 1,668 (W vs Trevin Giles)2022-07-02: 1,706 (W vs Brad Tavares)2022-12-10: 1,774 (W vs Darren Till)2023-03-04: 1,852 (W vs Derek Brunson)2023-07-08: 1,911 (W vs Robert Whittaker)2024-01-20: 1,896 (W vs Sean Strickland)2024-08-17: 1,889 (W vs Israel Adesanya)2025-02-08: 1,894 (W vs Sean Strickland)2025-08-16: 1,857 (L vs Khamzat Chimaev)2026-07-18: 1,878 (W vs Kamaru Usman)1,878

Rating after each UFC bout from the frozen predictive model (performance-adjusted Elo, data/processed/elo_history.csv; a debut starts at 1,500). The resume rating's history is not stored, so this is the predictive line, which is a different number from the resume rating in the header.

Trajectory

Recent performances are in line with the rating (+4 points).

ComponentPointsMeaning
Age component-19what fighters aged 32.8 typically run relative to their rating (population curve, all UFC bouts since 2011)
Own recent results+24his recency-weighted mean and trend over 11 bouts, shrunk toward zero; trend -4 points a year
Combined+4the rating's likely distance from his current performance level, in rating points
Readingin line with ratingahead of, in line with (within 30 points), or behind the rating

Performance relative to the rating, by age

-1.0-0.5+0.0+0.5+1.02627282930313233342020-10-10 (age 26.7): W vs Markus Perez, residual +0.542021-07-10 (age 27.5): W vs Trevin Giles, residual +0.562022-07-02 (age 28.5): W vs Brad Tavares, residual +0.182022-12-10 (age 28.9): W vs Darren Till, residual +0.532023-03-04 (age 29.1): W vs Derek Brunson, residual +0.632023-07-08 (age 29.5): W vs Robert Whittaker, residual +0.582024-01-20 (age 30.0): W vs Sean Strickland, residual +0.042024-08-17 (age 30.6): W vs Israel Adesanya, residual +0.522025-02-08 (age 31.1): W vs Sean Strickland, residual +0.232025-08-16 (age 31.6): L vs Khamzat Chimaev, residual -0.492026-07-18 (age 32.5): W vs Kamaru Usman, residual +0.43+0.01

Each dot is one decided UFC bout at his age then: the performance score minus the rating's expectation, on the score's own scale from -1 to +1 (filled = win, hollow = loss; above zero is better than the rating implied; a finish as a slight favourite is about +0.45). The dashed line is the population curve for all fighters; the solid line is this fighter's own fitted level and trend as of the data date, weighted toward recent bouts. One unit sustained over many bouts corresponds to about 695 rating points; a single bout's residual is noisy.

Held-out evidence (walk-forward 2016 to 2026, EXP-2026-10-21-01): the age curve held in every test year; the individual component is a weak signal (correlation 0.06 with the next bout's residual; among fighters aged 33 or over, the lowest predicted quartile won 38% of next bouts against 53% expected, the highest 48% against 52%) and adds nothing to bout prediction beyond the shadow model. No board uses any of it: the rankings answer who has earned the place, not who wins next (EXP-2026-10-20-09). Method: src/mmalab/decline.py; settings: config/decline.yaml (expectation from the resume rating; one unit of residual is about 695 rating points).

Context flags

Descriptive only. Each line is a population fact about fighters like him, not a forecast for him; the register entries hold the measurements.

REAL v1.0 (registered method) · build c166ee8 · data through 2026-10-31 · page built 2026-11-06 · changelog. Independent fan research project built on public UFCStats data. Not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by UFC, Zuffa, LLC, TKO Group Holdings, or any athlete. All trademarks belong to their owners and are used only to identify athletes and events.