CHICAGO – Dricus Du Plessis believes he’s knocking on the door of middleweight GOAT status.

In the main event of UFC 319 (ESPN+ pay-per-view) at United Center, Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) puts his 185-pound title on the line against Khamzat Chimaev, who many believe is one of the toughest tests in the UFC, regardless of division.

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If successful against Chimaev, Du Plessis will tie Chris Weidman with three title defenses, which is third in the division’s history behind Israel Adesanya and Anderson Silva. Du Plessis has successfully defended his crown twice, and Weidman recently told MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn that with a third, his name will be in the conversation for greatest ever in his division.

“Yeah, in terms of the number of title defenses, sure,” Du Plessis told reporters at media day. “I think Chris Weidman is amazing. I’m a massive, massive fan. When you look at the amount of defenses, and you look at a guy like Anderson Silva, for example. I think Anderson Silva is the GOAT, because he’s the guy. He’s always been a hero of mine.

“But you also have to look in terms of era of title defenses – who these guys fought. Did they fight a guy with a part-time job? Did they fight full-time fighters? Was the sport ever as developed as it is right now? But I can’t take away from any of those guys. I’m just saying, in today’s age of fighting, that amount of defenses is not always possible. Right now, I still have a long way to go before I’m considered as the greatest of all time, and even the greatest middleweight of all time. But after this fight, I am right up there. I’m getting very close to that.”

Du Plessis is currently on an 11-fight winning streak, with his last setback coming in 2018, two fights before entering the UFC. He tore through the division, winning six, including a second-round stoppage of former champion Robert Whittaker, to earn a title shot against then-champion Sean Strickland. Du Plessis defended the title against Adesanya and Strickland in a rematch.

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The challenge that lies ahead is an undefeated wrecking ball in Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC). Oddsmakers see the challenger as the favorite, and Du Plessis understands why. Ultimately, the South African champ views the situation as familiar, because every fight has been tougher than the one before it. With a win over Chimaev, Du Plessis sees himself being one step closer to the GOAT, but also knows he will still have his doubters.

“I think he’s exactly as good as people think, and I know he’s this massive task – and so was every other guy in front of me,” Du Plessis said. “At the stage where I fought them, they were these massive tasks. Look at Robert Whittaker. He hasn’t lost in over a decade to anybody else than the champion. Then, fighting Strickland, who just beat Adesanya, and beating him, then fighting Adesanya, who – it’s Israel Adesanya. One of the best to ever do this sport. Now, it’s this guy. And after this guy, there will be another guy where people will say, ‘Oh, this is your biggest test to date.’ Because that’s what happens when you fight the best of the best.

“So, yes. This fight is massive. Khamzat is an incredibly good fighter. But what people are going to be saying is the same thing they’ve said after every one of my fights: ‘He did it again. Can you believe it? Dricus did it again. I will not doubt him again.’ You know, same ol’, same ol’.”

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 319: Dricus Du Plessis says he’s ‘very close’ to GOAT status