Signed by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2020, just before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dricus du Plessis' rise to the top of the middleweight division in 2024 has been nothing short of remarkable.
This year 'Stillknocks" made history as the first South African to win a UFC title ,defeating America's Sean Strickland by split decision in Toronto. His victory not only made the nation proud but also helped popularise the sport in South Africa.
He then defied expectations by successfully defending his title against Israel Adesanya, who is widely regarded as one the greatest fighters in the history of the UFC.
Du Plessis, who was accompanied by Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth to the octagon, secured a decisive victory against the Nigerian-born Adesanya, submitting the two-time champion in the fourth round after landing some heavy blows.
After the fight, he revelled in his hard-fought victory “I came in here to die for this belt... I came here to take it home. Here I am, still the champion," he said.
His resounding success in the octagon has solidified his status as a household name in the world of mixed martial arts. He recently walked away with the International Fighter of The Year award at the MMA Awards in Las Vegas.
The World MMA Awards, presented by Fighters Only magazine, celebrate exceptional achievements across all aspects of mixed martial arts.
According to reports the 30-year-old fighter was also one of the country's highest-paid athletes in 2024, it is believed that he raked in about R40 million in earnings.
His earnings mostly came from his UFC winnings, bonuses, and sponsorships with brands such as Monster Energy and Mercedes-Benz.
There is no doubt that du Plessis has had a great 2024, however, more challenging times lie ahead, he is set to defend his title in a rematch against Strickland in Australia in February next year.
While he defeated Strickland to win the title, the fight was extremely close, leading some, including UFC boss Dana White, to believe that Strickland was the actual winner.
After the fight, White revealed that he had scored it in favour of Strickland. Du Plessis will be eager to defend his title against Strickland to silence the doubts and criticisms regarding his victory.
However, this will not be an easy task. Since losing the title, Strickland has further developed his ground game and achieved an impressive decision victory against Paulo Costa at UFC 302.
IOL Sport