Reinier de Ridder
The Dutch Knight
Netherlands
Remains perfect in UFC
De Ridder defeated Robert Whittaker via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
ANALYSIS
De Ridder has now won all four of his UFC bouts since debuting last November, including victories over Whittaker, Bo Nickal and Kevin Holland. On the whole, he was unquestionably the better man in this fight. He remained aggressive throughout, while Whittaker faded after a hot start. The issue for RDR is that the biggest blows of the bout came from the Whittaker side. He not only survived a huge Round 3 knockdown, but did enough over the course of the final 10 minutes to steal the fight. De Ridder is a lot like UFC Middleweight Championship Dricus du Plesiss in the sense that he often looks exhausted and gives off bad visuals at time. Yet much like DDP, RDR is constantly working and trying to score points whenever possible, even if they are seemingly inconsequential blows. That can make a big difference in the eyes of the judges, particularly in a decision as close as this one. De Ridder is closing in on a title fight at 185 pounds.
De Ridder has now won all four of his UFC bouts since debuting last November, including victories over Whittaker, Bo Nickal and Kevin Holland. On the whole, he was unquestionably the better man in this fight. He remained aggressive throughout, while Whittaker faded after a hot start. The issue for RDR is that the biggest blows of the bout came from the Whittaker side. He not only survived a huge Round 3 knockdown, but did enough over the course of the final 10 minutes to steal the fight. De Ridder is a lot like UFC Middleweight Championship Dricus du Plesiss in the sense that he often looks exhausted and gives off bad visuals at time. Yet much like DDP, RDR is constantly working and trying to score points whenever possible, even if they are seemingly inconsequential blows. That can make a big difference in the eyes of the judges, particularly in a decision as close as this one. De Ridder is closing in on a title fight at 185 pounds.
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Booked vs. Whittaker in July
De Ridder will face Robert Whittaker in a middleweight bout at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
De Ridder has had an excellent start to his UFC career. He's a perfect 3-0 in the promotion, most recently disposing of Bo Nickal with a knee on May 3. Now, he'll take on a fighter the same age (34), but one with significantly more experience i the UFC -- Whittaker is 17-6 in the promotion. However, he also lost his last bout and gives up four inches of height and 5.5 inches of reach to de Ridder. This should be a fascinating bout.
De Ridder has had an excellent start to his UFC career. He's a perfect 3-0 in the promotion, most recently disposing of Bo Nickal with a knee on May 3. Now, he'll take on a fighter the same age (34), but one with significantly more experience i the UFC -- Whittaker is 17-6 in the promotion. However, he also lost his last bout and gives up four inches of height and 5.5 inches of reach to de Ridder. This should be a fascinating bout.
Shocks Bo Nickal in Des Moines
De Ridder defeated Bo Nickal via TKO (knees) at 1:53 of Round 2 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa.
ANALYSIS
It was a flawless performance from de Ridder against an opponent universally viewed as one of the top prospects in the sport. RDR had won each of his first two UFC bouts via submission (Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland), and while both were nice wins, he still found himself a +285 underdog for this fight against Nickal. He won Round 1 on all three scorecards with a few big blows and some solid grappling before putting an exhausted Bo away early in Round 2 with a couple huge knees. It would go on to win him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. Full marks to RDR. A former two-division champion in ONE, de Ridder has put himself in line for a massive fight next. He'll be 35 years old in August and absorbed virtually no damage this evening, so the UFC should try to get him back in there as soon as possible.
It was a flawless performance from de Ridder against an opponent universally viewed as one of the top prospects in the sport. RDR had won each of his first two UFC bouts via submission (Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland), and while both were nice wins, he still found himself a +285 underdog for this fight against Nickal. He won Round 1 on all three scorecards with a few big blows and some solid grappling before putting an exhausted Bo away early in Round 2 with a couple huge knees. It would go on to win him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. Full marks to RDR. A former two-division champion in ONE, de Ridder has put himself in line for a massive fight next. He'll be 35 years old in August and absorbed virtually no damage this evening, so the UFC should try to get him back in there as soon as possible.
Nickal next
De Ridder is scheduled to compete against Bo Nickal in a middleweight fight at UFC Des Moines on May 3, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Even though De Ridder is fighting someone below him in the UFC's middleweight rankings, he takes on a relatively bigger name among the division's prospect pool. Nickal is a wrestling standout undefeated across his UFC career and after four fights with the promotion. De Ridder will look to raise his name's stock again, just like he did after submitting Kevin Holland in January.
Even though De Ridder is fighting someone below him in the UFC's middleweight rankings, he takes on a relatively bigger name among the division's prospect pool. Nickal is a wrestling standout undefeated across his UFC career and after four fights with the promotion. De Ridder will look to raise his name's stock again, just like he did after submitting Kevin Holland in January.
Quickly taps out Kevin Holland
De Ridder defeated Kevin Holland via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:31 of Round 1 at UFC 311 on Saturday in Los Angeles.
ANALYSIS
De Ridder, a former two-division champion in ONE, made his UFC debut in November and struggled despite scoring a third-round submission win over a talented grappler in Gerald Meerschaert. Knowing full well of Holland's struggles wrestling, RDR intelligently got the fight to the mat just moments after the opening bell rang and cruised from there. De Ridder's striking is average, at best, but he's strong and physical and a real threat on the ground. It's very easy to imagine de Ridder struggling if the takedowns don't materialize, but it's also abundantly clear he's capable of performances such as this one.
De Ridder, a former two-division champion in ONE, made his UFC debut in November and struggled despite scoring a third-round submission win over a talented grappler in Gerald Meerschaert. Knowing full well of Holland's struggles wrestling, RDR intelligently got the fight to the mat just moments after the opening bell rang and cruised from there. De Ridder's striking is average, at best, but he's strong and physical and a real threat on the ground. It's very easy to imagine de Ridder struggling if the takedowns don't materialize, but it's also abundantly clear he's capable of performances such as this one.
Fighting Holland next
De Ridder will fight Kevin Holland at UFC 311 on Jan. 18, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
De Ridder took down Gerald Meerschaert to secure his first UFC victory in November. Holland, on the other hand, has dropped three of his last four bouts but will have a significant experience advantage over de Ridder.
De Ridder took down Gerald Meerschaert to secure his first UFC victory in November. Holland, on the other hand, has dropped three of his last four bouts but will have a significant experience advantage over de Ridder.