Reinier de Ridder News
Pro fighters make their picks for Robert Whittaker vs Reinier de Ridder
Cole Shelton - July 23, 2025
Reinier de Ridder sees path to UFC middleweight title shot if he defeats Robert Whittaker
Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 22, 2025
Could unforeseen circumstances lead to a quick UFC title opportunity for Reinier de Ridder? Saturday will be pivotal for de Ridder, as he will meet former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker. The 185-pound scrap will headline UFC Abu Dhabi. For de Ridder, it’s a chance to shoot up to a top five position in the division.
Reinier de Ridder predicting a spectacular win over Robert Whittaker at UFC Abu Dhabi: "I need to finish him"
Cole Shelton - July 21, 2025
Reinier de Ridder is expecting to make a statement in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday. de Ridder is set to headline the card against former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in a pivotal fight at middleweight. Although the winner of Nassourdibe Imavov vs Caio Borralho appears to be next in line, de Ridder believes that if he has a spectacular finish, as he predicts, he could leapfrog them.
Robert Whittaker's next UFC fight is official and it might surprise you
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 18, 2025
Former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker has his next fight booked, and it isn’t what fans were expecting. While rising contenders such as Caio Borralho had been pounding the table to fight “The Reaper,” Whittaker made it clear publicly that he preferred to fight Sean Strickland since their paths have never crossed inside the Octagon. Neither Borralho nor Strickland will be facing Whittaker next.
Reinier de Ridder believes Dricus du Plessis could finish Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319
Harry Kettle - May 21, 2025
UFC star Reinier de Ridder believes Dricus du Plessis is more than capable of finishing Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319. As we know, Dricus du Plessis has been one of the big surprise packages in mixed martial arts over the last few years. He entered the UFC with one goal: capture the UFC middleweight championship. He managed to achieve that dream and since then, he’s been able to successfully defend the strap against Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland. So far, so good for the South African sensation.
Reinier de Ridder doesn’t get UFC rankings boost despite Bo Nickal victory
Harry Kettle - May 7, 2025
UFC contender Reinier de Ridder has not been moved further up the middleweight rankings despite his win over Bo Nickal. Last Saturday night, Reinier de Ridder really arrived in the UFC’s middleweight division. While he’d already picked up a couple of wins prior to his triumph over Bo Nickal, this was the time for him to really test himself against one of the most hyped fighters in the entire sport. He passed the test with flying colours, dominating Nickal from pillar to post before finishing him with a nasty knee to the stomach.
The ONE advantage: Why Reinier de Ridder is steamrolling through UFC competition
BJPENN.COM Staff - May 6, 2025
Former two-weight ONE MMA World Champion Reinier de Ridder rose to the top of ONE Championship, becoming a formidable force. He’s been terrorizing the world of MMA long before his UFC tenure began, and that only highlights the depth of ONE’s MMA realm. “The Dutch Knight” carved out his third consecutive stoppage win in the UFC this past Saturday, 3 May, dispatching surging UFC star Bo Nickal in round two.
Reinier de Ridder believes he has a "good shot" at beating Khamzat Chimaev after training with him
Cole Shelton - May 6, 2025
Reinier de Ridder is confident he would be able to hand Khamzat Chimaev his first career loss after handing Bo Nickal his first defeat. De Ridder pulled off an upset win on Saturday as he scored a TKO win over Nickal at UFC Des Moines. It was a stunning result that should get the de Ridder a top-10, if not a top-five, opponent next.
Bo Nickal admits he got 'exposed' in devastating UFC loss to Reinier de Ridder
BJ Penn Staff - May 6, 2025
UFC middleweight prospect Bo Nickal got his first taste of defeat in MMA last Saturday, suffering a devastating TKO loss to Reinier De Ridder. He is not shying away from the experience. Nickal met De Ridder in the co-main event of the UFC’s debut in Des Moines, Iowa. It was the wrestling standout’s chance to improve to 8-0 as a pro and vault into the middleweight rankings, but it was not meant to be. Instead, Nickal was dominated by De Ridder in round one, and finished by a knee to the body in round two.
Reinier de Ridder calls for showdown with Sean Strickland after UFC Des Moines
Harry Kettle - May 4, 2025
UFC middleweight contender Reinier de Ridder has called for a showdown with Sean Strickland after his win at UFC Des Moines. Since entering the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Reinier de Ridder has looked like an absolute machine. That was especially true in his co-main event contest with Bo Nickal last night. He looked dominant from start to finish, and he was eventually able to secure the finish as a result of some really nasty knees that the American wrestling sensation simply couldn’t handle.
UFC Des Moines Bonus Report: Reinier de Ridder one of four fighters to take home $50k
Chris Taylor - May 3, 2025
The Octagon returned to Iowa for tonight’s UFC Des Moines event, and four fighters wound up taking home performance bonuses. The fight card was headlined by a key men’s bantamweight matchup between Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo. The highly anticipated contest resulted in an extremely impressive showing from Sandhagen. After landing some solid low kicks and jabs in the opening couple of minutes, ‘The Sandman’ promptly took the fight to the floor and landed some solid ground and pound before the horn sounded to end the opening round. Then, in round two, Cory Sandhagen once again got Deiveson Figueiredo to the floor and wound up finishing him with a knee bar submission hold. The bout was ruled a TKO stoppage due to injury, but there was no doubt that ‘Figgy’ tapped from the leg lock.
Pros react after Reinier de Ridder TKO's Bo Nickal at UFC Des Moines
Chris Taylor - May 3, 2025
Tonight’s UFC Des Moines fight card was co-headlined by a highly anticipated middleweight bout between Bo Nickal and Reinier de Ridder. Nickal (7-1 MMA) was returning to action for the first time since this past November at UFC 309, where he outpointed veteran Paul Craig on route to a unanimous decision victory. The 29-year-old had previously gone a perfect 4-0 inside of the Octagon, earning stoppage wins in three of those four contests.
UFC Des Moines Results: Reinier de Ridder stops Bo Nickal (Video)
Chris Taylor - May 3, 2025
We have you covered for all of tonight’s UFC Des Moines results, including the middleweight co-main event between Reinier de Ridder and Bo Nickal. Nickal (7-1 MMA) was last seen in action this past November at UFC 309, where he outpointed veteran Paul Craig on route to a unanimous decision victory. The 29-year-old has gone a perfect 4-0 thus far inside of the Octagon, earning stoppage wins in three of those four contests.
UFC Des Moines weigh-in results: Bo Nickal, de Ridder, 'Figgy,' and Cory Sandhagen make weight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 2, 2025
The UFC Des Moines weigh-ins are in the books, and fans will be pleased to know that there is no pre-fight drama. Headliners Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo tipped the scales on Friday morning and hit their target weights. Sandhagen clocked in at 135.5 pounds, while Figueiredo hit the 135-pound mark.
Surging UFC fighter trained with Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev, offers assessment of potential fight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 30, 2025
One rising UFC middleweight contender has trained with both Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev, and he has an assessment of a potential fight between the two. Recently, du Plessis shut down rumors of an injury. That leaves the door open for the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion to face Chimaev this year. The general consensus is that Chimaev is the deserving No. 1 contender after he quickly submitted Robert Whittaker last year.
Reinier De Ridder reveals surprising strategy for Bo Nickal fight at UFC Des Moines
Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 27, 2025
Reinier De Ridder thinks he knows the direction his fight with Bo Nickal could go. De Ridder and Nickal are scheduled to collide at UFC Des Moines on May 3. It’s a big opportunity for both men. For De Ridder, it’s a chance to end the hype train of a rising 185-pounder. On the flipside, Nickal gets the opportunity to make his debut on the official UFC middleweight rankings.
Reinier De Ridder explains why he likes Bo Nickal booking for UFC Des Moines
Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 19, 2025
Bo Nickal wasn’t Reinier De Ridder’s first choice for his next opponent, but he has no complaints. De Ridder and Nickal will collide on the UFC Des Moines card on May 3. It’s Nickal’s chance to enter the top 10 UFC middleweight rankings for the first time. As for De Ridder, he admits that he wasn’t expecting to receive the bout offer to fight the surging 185-pounder.
UFC 311 Results: Reinier de Ridder stops Kevin Holland in Round 1 (Video)
Chris Taylor - January 18, 2025
We have you covered for all of tonight’s UFC 311 results, including the middleweight bout between Reinier de Ridder and Kevin Holland. De Ridder (19-2 MMA), a former two-division champion in ONE Championship, made his Octagon debut this past November where he scored a third-round submission victory over Gerald Meerschaert (see that here). ‘The Dutch Knight’ has gone 3-2 over his past five fights overall.
Kevin Holland vows to expose the quit in Reinier de Ridder at UFC 311: "He fades and gives it away"
Cole Shelton - January 15, 2025
Kevin Holland believes Reinier de Ridder quits when the going gets tough and he plans to prove that at UFC 311. Holland remains in the middleweight division to face de Ridder on the main card of UFC 311. It’s an intriguing bout, but Holland is confident he will get his hand raised and likely finish the former ONE Championship champ.