Dricus Du Plessis believes that Anderson Silva is the largest middleweight in the history of UFC.
However, he believes that a victory over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 will bring him to a moving distance from 'The Spider' after just three defenses of his 185 pound belt.
Anderson Silva made 10 defenses of the UFC Middleweight title during his legendary regime as a champion.
Dricus Du Plessis accepts that he may not be the same as that record, but believes that his quality of opposition will ultimately enable him to become the middleweight goat with much fewer defenses.
Photo by Will Russell/Zuffa LLC
Dricus Du Plessis asks the CV of Anderson Silva
On Wednesday, Dricus Du Plessis was asked to respond to recent comments from Chris Weidman.
The former UFC champion middle weight claimed that a victory over Khamzat Chimaev 'DDP' would see him jump in third place on the goat list of 185LB.
Du Plessis believes that winning at UFC 319 places him 'very close' when taking the first place of Anderson Silva.
“Yes, in terms of the amount of title defenders, certainly,” he replied.
“I think Chris Weidman is great. I am a huge, massive fan. But if you look at the amount of defenses and you look at a man like Anderson Silva, for example. I think Anderson Silva is the goat because he has always been a hero of mine.
“You also have to look in terms of the era of title defenses. Whoever fought these guys? Did they fight with a man with a part -time job? Have they fought full -time hunters? Is the sport ever developed as it is now?”
“I can't remove any of those guys. I just say that between the age of fighting today, that amount of defenses is not always possible.
“At the moment I have a long way to go before I am considered the greatest of all time or even the largest middleweight of all time. After this fight I am above that. I get very close.”
Dricus Du Plessis closes a size difference difference
Earlier this week, Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev met for the first time for UFC 319.
Viral images of their short conversation have led fans to point out a clear difference in favor of the 14-0 Russian phenomenon.
Du Plessis was about the worries of the size difference after his meeting with Chimaev made some fans delivered.
“I mean, maybe it was the corner,” he said.
“I have not seen the video, but I can promise you – you will see, you will see.
“I stood in front of him. He is absolutely no longer than me,” Du Plessis continued. “Maybe a bit; Maybe like, half a centimeter. Yes, you will see it.
“And the other thing, I don't give it – how big he is. That's not what wins. But yes, I saw him, he is absolutely no bigger than me.”