Upon joining the UFC, Reinier de Ridder quickly made his intentions clear: he wasn`t wasting any time. His upcoming co-main event bout against rising prospect Bo Nickal this Saturday at UFC Des Moines presents a significant opportunity, potentially positioning him for a title shot if he secures a victory.
Already holding an unblemished 2-0 record in the promotion, the former two-division ONE Championship titlist faces a highly-touted opponent. Defeating Nickal could boost his standing perhaps more effectively than beating a currently higher-ranked fighter. Although de Ridder acknowledges that one win likely won`t secure an immediate title challenge, he believes a victory over Nickal would place him among the leading contenders vying for a future opportunity against the eventual champion from the Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev middleweight clash.
“That`s definitely my line of thinking,” de Ridder commented regarding his title aspirations. “Many of the top contenders have already faced off, so you never know. If I perform well and perhaps finish him early, like with a choke, I believe I`ll make a strong case for myself.”
As a middleweight competitor ascending the ranks, de Ridder naturally holds a keen interest in the upcoming championship bout between du Plessis and Chimaev, a fight currently scheduled for 2025 but without a confirmed date yet.
However, his interest extends beyond just being a potential future opponent. Having previously trained with both du Plessis and Chimaev, de Ridder possesses unique insight into how their stylistic matchup might unfold.
“I`ve gotten some rounds in with both fighters,” de Ridder stated. “I`ve trained with them individually.” He elaborated, “Specifically in a five-round setting, I anticipate Khamzat will likely come out aggressively, probably attempting a takedown right away. But Dricus isn`t straightforward to bring to the mat. He has effective movement, even if it occasionally appears unconventional. His footwork is decent; he manages to escape and circle effectively.”
“Frankly, I don`t foresee Khamzat securing an immediate takedown or finishing him with a choke in the opening round,” de Ridder added.
Should Chimaev fail to secure an early stoppage, de Ridder predicts du Plessis will increasingly gain control as the fight progresses.
“Every round that passes without him getting that choke is going to disadvantage him more,” de Ridder commented on Chimaev`s prospects. “Given Dricus`s unique approach and powerful striking, I suspect it could turn into a challenging and lengthy fight for Khamzat.”
Since entering the UFC, du Plessis has consistently managed to catch opponents off guard, often utilizing methods that deviate from traditional martial arts techniques.
Despite the sometimes-awkward appearance of his style, de Ridder considers this unpredictability a major factor making du Plessis a tough opponent, as it`s hard to anticipate his next move.
“He just keeps pushing forward,” de Ridder remarked. “It`s remarkable. He might look completely exhausted, with technique seemingly abandoned, yet he maintains his strength and explosive power. My prediction leans towards Dricus winning, though a victory for Khamzat would also be interesting. Ultimately, I believe Dricus possesses a strong likelihood of success.”
Long before either fighter joined the UFC roster, de Ridder competed in the same regional promotion as du Plessis, although they never competed against each other. They later trained together, and de Ridder spoke highly of his time working with du Plessis, emphasizing that this won`t deter him from pursuing the same UFC middleweight title.
“Incidentally, Dricus is also a genuinely good person,” de Ridder added. “Due to the language, I can understand some of what he says in Afrikaans. His personality is quite similar to his fighting style – seemingly everywhere, energetic – but he`s a very pleasant and friendly individual. I think a fight between us down the road would be quite exciting.”
