Dricus Du Plessis acknowledged Conor McGregor's significant contribution to the growth of mixed martial arts. Du Plessis noted that while people often say no one can be bigger than the sport itself, McGregor managed to transcend that limitation. The South African champion expressed his view that McGregor made a definitive and substantial impact on MMA's development. His comments reflect the widespread recognition of McGregor's influence in elevating the sport's profile globally.
Dricus Du Plessis has spoken publicly about Conor McGregor's outsized influence on mixed martial arts, offering a measured tribute to the Irishman's role in lifting the sport to a mainstream audience.
Du Plessis, the 32-year-old South African middleweight ranked second in his division and seventh pound-for-pound, acknowledged that while the conventional wisdom holds that no individual can be bigger than the sport itself, McGregor genuinely broke that rule. The South African champion, who carries a 23-3-0 record and trains out of Team CIT, suggested McGregor made a definitive and substantial impact that few athletes in any combat sport have matched. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, Du Plessis has built his own reputation as one of the most dangerous fighters in the world, landing 5.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, but he was generous in recognizing the platform McGregor helped construct for fighters like himself.
McGregor, now 37 and fighting out of SBG Ireland, holds a 22-6-0 professional record and brought a southpaw striking style to the sport that captivated a global audience. With a reach of 74 inches and a significant strike rate of 5.32 per minute at 49 percent accuracy, the Notorious became one of the most recognizable combat sports figures on the planet during his peak years.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis is the current middleweight champion, giving his public remarks added weight within the sport's community.
- McGregor's commercial success broadened MMA's global reach, creating larger audiences and bigger revenue streams that benefit current fighters.
- The comments reflect a growing conversation inside the sport about which individuals have genuinely transcended MMA rather than simply competed within it.
