The current UFC champion middleweight wants to secure its third title defense on August 16.
Dana White expects great things from the matchup of Dricus du Plessis with Khamzat Chimaev, which will lead UFC 319 on Saturday evening.
'Stillknocks' has proven in recent years that many people are wrong by continuing his remarkable winning series in the Octagon.
Because many believe that Chimaev will be his most difficult test, a victory for the champion will certainly increase its stock considerably.
Du Plessis has set all his sights on the status of Anderson Silva as the largest middleweight of all time, in the conviction that he “gets very close”.
Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty images
Chris Weidman admits that Dricus Du Persis might catch up in the UFC Middleweight Goat interview
Although the middleweight division of the UFC has been around for a long time, only seven hunters have been able to successfully defend the title after they became champions.
That is largely due to the legendary dominant government of Anderson Silva, who saw him hold the belt until July to July 2023.
Although both Silva and Israel Adesanya are still in defense for Dricus du Plessis as he wins on UFC 319, he will bind Chis Weidman's run of three consecutive defenses.
UFC middleweight champions who successfully defended the titleTitle defensesMurilo Bustamante1 – UFC 37 in 2002Rich Franklin2 – UFC 56 in 2005, UFC 58 in 2006Anderson Silva10 – consecutive from 2007 to 2012Chris Weidman3 – UFC 168 in 2013, UFC 175 in 2014, UFC 187 In 2015michael Bisping1 – UFC 204 in 2016israel Adesanya5 – successively in his first Reigndricus du Persis2 – UFC 305 in 2024, UFC 312 in 2025
In a recent interview with Mike Bohn, Weidman admitted that with title defenses the most important statistics he uses to assess how great a champion is, he has no problem with people who arrange du Plessis above him if he is successful on 16 August.
“I am great in title defense, so it has always been for me in my mind who is the best in a weight class because I know how difficult it is to get the championship, but also to hold it. They were boys like Anderson Silva, at least in my weight class that you looked at, was the most impressive.
“That was what everyone had to try to chase if you would try to be the goat of the weight class … This is now the third title defense of DDP, if he achieves this victory, he binds me with the most title defenses and it is in the air. You want to throw him for me, you want to place him right behind me, I would say it is probably honest.”
Chris Weidman believes that Cardio will be the key for Dricus du Plessis on UFC 319
Chris Weidman thinks very high about the struggle of Khamzat Chimaev, but he is not sure if that will be enough to win the middleweight title.
Just like the predictions of many people, he thinks that if 'Borz' will increase his hand, he has to put the champion early on UFC 319.
With that in mind, meadow predicted that the experience of Dricus Du Plessis will be the key to him that Saturday night wins as a five -round hunter.
“I think DDP will only win this fight that will win. Now I could see, if DDP loses, he will be ready in the first three rounds, but if I had to put all my money on it, I would go on DDP here.”