Now a UFC fighter, Reinier de Ridder quickly seeks top contention within the organization. His upcoming co-main event bout against Bo Nickal at UFC Des Moines this Saturday represents a critical step that could position him for a title shot in the future.
Holding a 2-0 record in the UFC, the former two-division ONE champion believes defeating a highly-touted prospect like Nickal could ultimately benefit his career more than beating a currently higher-ranked opponent. While de Ridder acknowledges that one win might not secure him an immediate title opportunity, he anticipates that beating Nickal will place him firmly on the shortlist of potential contenders who will eventually compete for the chance to face the winner of the upcoming middleweight title fight between champion Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.
“That`s exactly what I`m thinking regarding my title aspirations,” de Ridder stated. “Many of the top guys have already faced each other, so who knows. If I can perform well and finish him early, perhaps with a choke, I believe I`ll definitely have a strong claim.”
As a middleweight contender ascending the rankings, de Ridder naturally holds a keen interest in the scheduled title fight between du Plessis and Chimaev, which is currently planned for 2025, though without a specific date yet.
However, his interest extends beyond simply observing potential future opponents. De Ridder has spent time training with both du Plessis and Chimaev in the past, providing him with unique insights into how their potential matchup might actually unfold.
“I`ve gained some experience working with both fighters; I`ve trained alongside them,” de Ridder commented. “Especially in a five-round contest, I`d expect Khamzat to likely come out aggressively again, pushing for a takedown right away. But Dricus isn`t easily taken down. He moves very effectively, even if his style looks a bit unusual at times. His footwork is quite good. He manages to evade and circles well.”
“I don`t anticipate Khamzat getting him down immediately, and frankly, I don`t see Khamzat securing a first-round submission either,” he added.
De Ridder believes that if Chimaev cannot secure an early finish, du Plessis will progressively take control as the fight continues.
“Each round he fails to choke him out is going to become more challenging for him,” de Ridder remarked about Chimaev. “Because of Dricus`s unorthodox style and his powerful strikes, I think it could turn into a long night for Khamzat.”
Since his arrival in the UFC, du Plessis has consistently managed to surprise opponents, even without employing the most traditional techniques.
Despite how awkward his movements might appear at times, de Ridder considers this unpredictability Dricus`s key advantage, making him a tough opponent because anticipating his next move is extremely difficult.
“He just keeps pushing forward,” de Ridder observed. “That`s the amazing part. He might look completely exhausted, and his technique seems to disappear, but somehow he maintains his strength and remains very explosive. I`m leaning towards Dricus for the win, although it would be interesting if Khamzat pulls it off too. But I genuinely think Dricus has a strong chance.”
Years before either fighter joined the UFC, de Ridder was actually part of the same regional promotion as du Plessis, although they never competed against each other. They eventually trained together, and de Ridder speaks highly of his experience with du Plessis, emphasizing that despite their connection, it wouldn`t deter him from pursuing Dricus`s potential UFC title.
“Dricus is also a really good guy, by the way,” de Ridder added, mentioning his ability to understand Dricus speaking Afrikaans due to the language similarities. He playfully described Dricus`s personality as somewhat mirroring his fighting style – energetic and maybe a bit scattered (“all over the place, ADHD”) – but stressed that he is “very pleasant, a very friendly person.” De Ridder concluded by suggesting that a future fight between them “would be a very cool matchup down the line.”
