UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis acknowledged Conor McGregor's significant contribution to mixed martial arts. Du Plessis noted that while people often say no one can be bigger than the sport itself, McGregor managed to achieve exactly that. The South African champion emphasized that McGregor definitively made a major impact on the growth and popularity of MMA. This statement reflects the ongoing recognition of McGregor's influence on the sport, even as his competitive career has stalled in recent years.
UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis has spoken publicly about Conor McGregor's outsized role in building mixed martial arts into a global phenomenon, offering a candid tribute to the Irishman's cultural impact on the sport.
Du Plessis, who holds a 23-3-0 record and currently sits at number seven in the pound-for-pound rankings, acknowledged a sentiment that runs through combat sports circles — that no single figure should be bigger than the sport itself. The 32-year-old South African noted that McGregor managed to defy that conventional wisdom entirely, making a definitive and measurable mark on MMA's growth and mainstream popularity.
The Stillknocks champion has established himself as one of the most dangerous fighters in the middleweight division, ranked second among middleweights and landing 5.18 significant strikes per minute with 48 percent accuracy. Fighting out of a switch stance and standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, the Team CIT product has built a reputation as an aggressive, well-rounded competitor who also averages 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes.
McGregor, 37, carries a 22-6-0 professional record and remains one of the most recognizable names the sport has ever produced. The Notorious built his profile through a southpaw striking style that produced 5.32 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy across his career. The SBG Ireland product stands five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach and helped draw millions of new fans to MMA during his peak years.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis, as reigning middleweight champion, carries weight when assessing the sport's history and key figures
- McGregor's competitive career has slowed considerably, making recognition from current champions a notable talking point
- The comments underscore how McGregor's legacy continues to shape conversations around MMA's broader cultural growth
