Dricus Du Plessis publicly acknowledged Conor McGregor's significant contribution to the growth of mixed martial arts. The UFC middleweight champion stated that while people say you can't be bigger than the sport, McGregor achieved exactly that. Du Plessis emphasized that McGregor unquestionably made a major impact on MMA's development. The comments reflect respect from one of the current champions toward McGregor's legacy in the sport.
UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis has publicly praised Conor McGregor's outsized influence on the growth of mixed martial arts, crediting the Irish superstar with elevating the sport beyond what most thought possible.
Du Plessis, speaking in what appear to be recent public comments, pushed back against the notion that no individual can be bigger than the sport itself. The South African champion argued that McGregor proved that idea wrong, stating the Irishman unquestionably made a major impact on MMA's development and achieved a level of mainstream reach that transcended the sport.
Du Plessis currently holds the UFC middleweight title and sits at number two in the divisional rankings and seventh in the pound-for-pound standings. The 32-year-old carries a record of 23-3-0 and has established himself as one of the most dangerous fighters in the sport, landing 5.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also threatening with 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes. He trains out of Team CIT and fights out of a switch stance, standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach.
McGregor, the 37-year-old from Dublin who trains at SBG Ireland, holds a career record of 22-6-0 and competed primarily at featherweight and lightweight during his peak years. Fighting out of a southpaw stance at five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach, he posted a striking output of 5.32 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy across his UFC career. His ability to generate mainstream attention and commercial revenue reshaped how the sport was marketed and consumed globally.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis is the reigning middleweight champion, giving his public statements significant weight in shaping the sport's current narrative
- McGregor's legacy continues to draw commentary from active champions, underscoring his lasting cultural footprint in MMA
- The remarks highlight a generational conversation about who defines the sport's growth beyond results inside the octagon
