Dricus du Plessis is on a mission to challenge the legacy of UFC legend Anderson Silva as he gears up for a pivotal showdown against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319.

While acknowledging Silva as the greatest middleweight in UFC history, du Plessis believes a victory over Chimaev will bring him closer to claiming that title, even after just a few title defenses of his own.

The Stakes Are High Ahead of UFC 319

During his reign, Silva made ten successful defenses of his middleweight title, a feat that du Plessis respects but questions in today’s context.

He understands he may not match that number, yet argues that the quality of his opponents elevates his own legacy.

Dricus Du Plessis Responds to Weidman’s Comments

In a recent interview, du Plessis reacted to Chris Weidman's assertion that a win over Chimaev would catapult him to third place on the all-time middleweight list.

"Winning at UFC 319 gets me very close to Anderson Silva's spot," he asserted. While respecting Weidman, he emphasized the importance of the era and the level of competition in assessing greatness.

Evaluating the Greats: Du Plessis on Title Defenses

"We need to look at who these fighters faced during their title reigns. Were they competing against part-time fighters or full-time athletes? The sport has evolved dramatically," he stated.

Du Plessis is clear: he still has a journey ahead to be called the GOAT, but he feels a win could drastically change that narrative.

Size Matters? Not for Du Plessis!

Following a recent face-off with Chimaev that stirred up discussions about size differences, du Plessis confidently dismissed any concerns.

"Maybe it was just the angle. You'll see—I'm definitely not shorter than him!" he quipped, adding that size won’t determine the outcome of their fight.

Du Plessis is focused on the fight ahead, expressing that he doesn’t care about Chimaev’s height; it’s the skill inside the octagon that ultimately prevails.