Are you one of those fans still asking, “Wait… who on earth is Paddy Du Plessis?” Well, let me introduce you to the man behind the nickname: Frederic Vosgrone. The 29-year-old German turned heads back in May at OKTAGON 69 when he rag-dolled Jorick Montagnac over and over again, dragging him to the canvas like it was nothing. That viral performance didn’t just earn him a win—it instantly sparked comparisons to some of the UFC’s most colorful names. We’re talking Brock Lesnar’s size, Dricus du Plessis’ relentless chaos, and Paddy Pimblett’s oddball energy.

Now fast forward a few months, and ‘The Neanderthal’ is right back in the spotlight. This time, he’s fighting Brazil’s Fabio Moraes inside a packed football stadium on what’s being hyped as the biggest card in OKTAGON history. The promotion’s already booked him again for Cologne in October, which tells you everything—you don’t double-book a guy unless you think he’s a future headliner. But the real question still lingers: who exactly is Frederic Vosgrone, and is he the next breakout star Europe’s been waiting for?

How Frederic Vosgrone became ‘Paddy Du Plessis’?

Frederic Vosgrone may have the support of his promoters and team, but right now, it’s the wider MMA community fueling his rise through those quirky comparisons. For those who don’t already know, Vosgrone is a BJJ black belt with a spotless 4-0 record, who went viral for visually resembling a mix of Brock Lesnar and Paddy Pimblett, while showcasing a wild, relentless fighting style reminiscent of Dricus Du Plessis, complete with a death grip on his opponent’s legs.

Before making the jump to MMA, the 29-year-old had already made his mark as one of the world’s top grapplers. He earned a bronze medal at the IBJJF World No-Gi Championships, captured the prestigious Polaris Grand Prix, and notched wins over elite names like UFC standout Reinder de Ridder and former UFC fighter Tom Breese. No small accomplishment, considering both men are regarded as world-class grapplers with more than 10 submission victories each on their résumés.

Now, with four pro fights and four submissions, Frederic Vosgrone’s grappling-first style speaks for itself. Having lived in London’s Hammersmith while teaching Jiu-Jitsu, he’s built a foundation that shows every time he steps into the cage. Still, he’s been open about wanting to score a knockout one day, though his striking remains a work in progress, as seen in his May 5 fight with Jorick Montagnac. But that raises the question: does Frederic Vosgrone mind being compared to names like Dricus Du Plessis, Paddy Pimblett, or even Brock Lesnar?

Frederic Vosgrone embraces Paddy & Lesnar comparisons

“The Paddy Pimblett thing goes back a long time,” Frederic Vosgrone told talkSPORT.com in Frankfurt ahead of his light heavyweight co-main event. “Many years ago, when I competed on the UK grappling scene, I remember Paddy Pimblett posting a picture of me on Instagram because people messaged him saying that I looked like him. But that was before he had his breakthrough.”

Frederic Vosgrone admits the comparisons don’t bother him. In fact, he finds them flattering. “Obviously, it’s great to be named in the same sentence as one of the biggest stars now. And Brock Lesnar, too,” he said. “I remember in Brazil when I was training there as a purple belt, many years ago they would always call me Brock Lesnar. It’s a pretty cool comparison. Brock Lesnar is much scarier than Paddy Pimblett, so I’ll stick with Brock Lesnar.”

Moreover, the Düsseldorf native also recognizes the upside of having fans connect his image to some of the sport’s biggest names. “In general, appearance definitely helps,” Vosgrone explained. “It wasn’t planned. I looked like this for quite some time, so it took the people some time to notice. But I guess it plays a big part, and obviously, if you have people online talking about that you look similar and stuff, it helps. It’s pretty cool. I’m not complaining.”

Ultimately, Frederic Vosgrone hopes a victory at Oktagon 76 on Saturday night will help him expand his profile, especially in the UK. But, the question is, will Frederic Vosgrone be able to turn those viral comparisons into a career breakthrough?