An undefeated UFC middleweight contender still hopes to avenge his previous defeats at some stage.
Reinier de Ridder believes that he needs to make a statement in Abu Dhabi in order to insert himself into the middleweight title picture.
While ‘RDR’ has hit the ground running in the UFC, he’s no stranger to world title fights, having previously reigned as a two-weight champion.
De Ridder has warned fighters about signing with ONE Championship since departing the promotion where he achieved great success in Asia.
Heading into de Ridder’s clash with Robert Whittaker, there is still only one man who has bested ‘The Dutch Knight’, having beaten him on two occasions.
Reinier de Ridder wants the opportunity to face Anatoly Malykhin again but says he ‘cannot fight in the UFC’
After going 16-0 in his career, Reinier de Ridder reigned as ONE’s middleweight and light heavyweight champion before he suffered his first setback in December of 2022.
ONE Fight Night 5 saw ‘The Dutch Knight’ defend his light heavyweight title in Manila against the undefeated Russian, Anatoly Malykhin.
Malykhin stopped him in the first round before claiming de Ridder’s other title in a rematch, finishing him in the third at ONE 166 in March of 2024.
During his media day interviews, de Ridder spoke highly of Malykhin when he was asked about how he would fare in the UFC.
‘The Dutch Knight’ also wants the opportunity to earn his revenge over the Russian but with him still being signed to ONE Championship, which has differing systems in place for the athletes compared to the UFC, he doesn’t think he’ll be standing across from his former opponent inside the Octagon anytime soon.
“I think his skill set would be very applicable, but we know that, with, I don’t know how to say this, but he cannot fight in the UFC because of other factors. So that’s a shame. I don’t think we will ever know, unfortunately. I would really like to have another shot at him one day, so hopefully that materializes, but he’s not able to fight in the UFC at the moment.”
Anatoly Malykhin claimed that only one UFC middleweight can beat Reinier de Ridder
In a recent interview with Bloody Elbow, Anatoly Malykhin also spoke highly of Reinier de Ridder.
Having taken both of his former opponent’s titles, the Russian went on to claim a third belt at heavyweight before suffering his first defeat last time out, losing the heavyweight title to Oumar ‘Reug Reug’ Kane.
He told Bloody Elbow that in his opinion, there’s only one UFC middleweight who poses a significant threat to de Ridder.
“If somebody’s underestimating de Ridder now, they should stop immediately. In my opinion, he’s in the top three in his weight class. The only opposition I see for him realistically who can stop him is Khamzat Chimaev.”
“I don’t think that anybody else can stop him. He is a fighter of a really high calibre.”