Dricus Du Plessis has never shied away from a challenge, and his latest revelation proves just how much effort goes into his preparation for fight night. The South African fighter, who is set to face Sean Strickland in a rematch at UFC 312, recently shared that he walks around at a staggering 230 lbs (approximately 104 kg) when he’s not in camp. That means he sheds over 40 lbs to make the middleweight limit of 185 lbs—a cut that requires careful planning and execution.
The Struggles of Weight Cutting
“Around 102 -105 kgs. That’s me, like, I would say three weeks after a fight, four weeks after a fight,” Du Plessis explained. “Then you’re training, eating whatever you didn’t eat in the last 12 weeks. You’re eating whatever you want, drinking a lot of beer and enjoying life a little for that period because you have to do that. You have to unwind.”
Weight cutting has long been a controversial yet integral part of combat sports. Fighters drop significant weight before stepping on the scale, only to rehydrate and bulk up again before fight night. It’s a process that, if not done correctly, can affect a fighter’s performance and overall health. Du Plessis understands this better than most, having previously competed at 170 lbs before moving up to middleweight.
Lessons Learned from Past Weight Cuts
“When I was 25, 26, you know my body just became heavier and bigger,” he recalled. “So to make that weight, my body fat was like 3%, and I made the weight, but every shot I would take felt like somebody’s hitting me with a baseball bat. That’s it. I said no, I’m not doing this anymore because I’m going to lose unnecessary fights, and it took the joy out of the sport.”
The key to a successful weight cut, according to Du Plessis, is managing rehydration properly. Fighters must find the right balance between shedding pounds and ensuring their bodies can still endure the intensity of a UFC fight.
“We need to get punched in the face,” he said bluntly. “You have to be able to perform at the highest level on earth—cardio-wise, muscle endurance, all of that. The whole body consists of water, so if your brain, I mean, the shots you take, you have to take all that into consideration when you’re cutting this weight.”
Could a Move to Light Heavyweight Be Next?
At 185 lbs, Du Plessis is one of the bigger fighters in the division, reminiscent of former middleweight champion Alex Pereira, who eventually moved up to light heavyweight. Given his size and the difficulty of his weight cut, it’s not far-fetched to think that a future move up in weight could be in the cards for the South African powerhouse. But for now, his focus remains on UFC 312, where he aims to prove that all the grueling preparation is worth it when he steps into the Octagon once again.
