Du Plessis has defied expectations since joining the UFC, proving himself against the best 185 pounds has to offer. He defeated former champ Robert Whittaker in a title eliminator, defeated Sean Strickland to win the title and successfully defended the title against another former champ in Israel Adesanya.

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.

Dricus du Plessis has only tasted defeat twice during his career but he never forgot the feeling of those losses and how much it made him never want to go through that again. On Saturday at UFC 319, he faces undefeated Chechen mauler Khamzat Chimaev,