Dricus Du Plessis acknowledged Conor McGregor's impact on mixed martial arts. Du Plessis stated that while people say you cannot be bigger than the sport itself, McGregor managed to achieve exactly that. The champion emphasized that McGregor made a significant contribution to MMA's growth and popularity. The post expresses appreciation for McGregor's role in expanding the sport's reach.
Dricus Du Plessis has spoken out in praise of Conor McGregor, crediting the Irish star with doing something few athletes in any sport have managed — becoming bigger than the sport itself.
Du Plessis, the South African middleweight champion ranked seventh pound-for-pound in the world, acknowledged that while the conventional wisdom holds that no individual can transcend their sport, McGregor proved that notion wrong. The champion expressed genuine appreciation for what McGregor contributed to MMA's global growth and mainstream popularity.
Du Plessis carries a 23-3-0 record and competes at 185 cm with a 193 cm reach. Fighting out of a switch stance for Team CIT, the 32-year-old is one of the division's most active strikers, landing 5.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also threatening on the ground with 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes.
McGregor, 37, holds a 22-6-0 professional record and built his reputation fighting out of a southpaw stance for SBG Ireland. The Irishman stands 175 cm tall with a 188 cm reach and produced some of the most-watched moments in UFC history, landing 5.32 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy across his career.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis, ranked second in the middleweight division, carries significant weight as a voice in the sport, making his public acknowledgment of McGregor's legacy noteworthy.
- McGregor's crossover appeal helped drive UFC's commercial expansion, and recognition from active champions reinforces that cultural impact.
- The comments reflect a broader conversation about athlete legacies and how individual stars can reshape an entire sport's audience.
