UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis has acknowledged Conor McGregor's significant impact on mixed martial arts. Du Plessis stated that while people say you can't be bigger than the sport itself, McGregor managed to achieve exactly that. The South African champion praised the Irishman's contribution to MMA's growth and development. Du Plessis emphasized that McGregor definitely made a major contribution to the sport. The comments reflect widespread recognition of McGregor's role in elevating MMA's global profile and mainstream appeal.
UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis has spoken out in praise of Conor McGregor, crediting the Irish star with playing a defining role in the growth of mixed martial arts as a global sport.
Du Plessis, the 32-year-old South African who holds a professional record of 23-3-0 and currently sits ranked seventh pound-for-pound in the UFC, acknowledged that McGregor transcended the conventional boundaries of athletic fame. The champion noted that while the common wisdom holds that no individual can become bigger than the sport itself, McGregor managed to do exactly that. Du Plessis was clear in his view that the Irishman made a major contribution to MMA's development and mainstream appeal.
The South African trains out of Team CIT and has established himself as one of the sport's most dangerous strikers, landing 5.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also averaging 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes — a well-rounded profile that earned him the middleweight title.
McGregor, 37, fighting out of SBG Ireland, carries a 22-6-0 record and built his reputation largely on explosive striking, averaging 5.32 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy across his UFC career. The southpaw from Dublin became one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet during his run through the featherweight and lightweight divisions, drawing massive audiences and pushing MMA into cultural spaces it had never previously reached.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis is the current UFC middleweight champion, giving his public statements added weight within the sport
- McGregor's influence on MMA's commercial growth is a recurring topic among active fighters and promoters
- The comments reflect a broader conversation about which figures have done the most to elevate MMA's global profile
