Dricus du Plessis Spearheads Unprecedented UFC Viewership Growth in South Africa

In the realm of combat sports, Dricus du Plessis has emerged as South Africa's most captivating UFC Middleweight Champion, consistently drawing in escalating numbers of viewers with each fight. The latest data collated by Nielsen Sports SA encapsulates the meteoric climb in du Plessis' appeal, underscoring a turning tide in local sports viewership.

Crunching the numbers reveals that du Plessis' popularity is not merely growing—it is surging. From his first appearance on national television screens in 2022, his viewership has erupted, culminating in over 300,000 South African fans tuning in to his title bout against seasoned fighter Israel Adesanya. But the surge didn’t stop there; an even more substantial viewership of 382,219 was recorded when he took on the American Sean Strickland, setting the bar for the highest viewership of a UFC event in South Africa.

This fascinating viewership trajectory has registered an astonishing increase of over 1,033% from du Plessis' early days on TV. Even more significant is the live unique audience count, which is more than double that of any other UFC event in the country sans du Plessis' involvement.

The involvement of dedicated South African supporters has resonated with Nielsen Sports SA. According to Duncan Stead, the commercial manager, Dricus du Plessis has become a beacon of national pride that underscores the country’s unifying spirit for sports. The reception and following for the champion are so fervent that fans are known to gather in the wee hours of the morning to welcome him home—a testament to the collective admiration of this sports figure.

Engagement with these broadcasts remained high, with 61% of the live viewing audience on SuperSport clinging to the broadcast for at least three-quarters of its duration. This statistic delineates a new high point for UFC viewership engagement in South Africa. It is not just the live broadcasts that are catching viewers' attention; a considerable proportion of spectators are returning to watch the fights more than once, amassing over 605,652 hours of viewership.

Tapping into a more localized view, it's Gauteng that stands out with 29% of the total audience for du Plessis' fights.