Dricus du Plessis has acknowledged Conor McGregor's significant impact on mixed martial arts. The UFC middleweight champion stated that while people say you can't be bigger than the sport, McGregor managed to achieve exactly that. Du Plessis expressed that McGregor definitely made a large contribution to MMA. The comment recognizes McGregor's influence on the sport's mainstream popularity and growth. Du Plessis's remarks highlight the Irish fighter's lasting legacy despite his current inactivity.
Dricus du Plessis has spoken out about Conor McGregor's outsized influence on mixed martial arts, crediting the Irish fighter with transcending the sport in a way few athletes ever have. The UFC middleweight champion made the remarks recently, noting that while the conventional wisdom holds that no individual can be bigger than the sport itself, McGregor proved that thinking wrong.
Du Plessis, 32, currently sits as the UFC middleweight champion and is ranked second in the division and seventh pound-for-pound. The South African out of Team CIT carries a 23-3-0 professional record and has built his reputation as one of the most well-rounded fighters in the game. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, he lands 5.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also averaging 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes — a combination that makes him a genuine threat across all phases of a fight.
McGregor, now 37, holds a 22-6-0 record and has long been considered one of the most marketable figures in combat sports history. The Dublin-born southpaw stands five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach and built his in-cage reputation largely on sharp, high-volume striking, landing 5.32 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy across his career. His crossover appeal helped bring MMA to audiences far beyond its traditional fanbase.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis's comments reflect a broader acknowledgment within the sport of McGregor's commercial and cultural legacy.
- McGregor's current inactivity makes recognition from a reigning champion like du Plessis a notable moment of reflection on his lasting impact.
- The remarks underscore how fighters from outside Ireland and the traditional MMA heartlands, including du Plessis himself representing South Africa, have benefited from the global audience McGregor helped build.
