Reinier de Ridder, having recently signed with the UFC, is set for a significant co-main event against Bo Nickal. A potential win could position him closer to a middleweight title shot in the organization.
With a 2-0 record in the UFC following a successful run as a two-division ONE champion, De Ridder faces one of the sport`s top prospects. He believes that defeating Nickal, while perhaps not guaranteeing the *next* title shot immediately, would place him firmly among the top contenders vying to face the winner of the eventual clash between current middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.
Expressing his championship aspirations, De Ridder noted that many top contenders have already competed against each other. He suggested that securing a dominant victory, like an early choke, would significantly strengthen his case for contention.
As he climbs the middleweight ranks, the upcoming title bout between Du Plessis and Chimaev, anticipated for 2025, is of significant interest to De Ridder.
His interest extends beyond simply watching potential future opponents, as De Ridder has previously trained with both Du Plessis and Chimaev, giving him unique insights into their potential matchup.
Sharing his experiences, De Ridder remarked, “I’ve trained with both of them.” He highlighted that Dricus du Plessis is particularly difficult to take down, noting his effective movement and circling despite sometimes appearing unconventional. Based on this, De Ridder doesn`t foresee Chimaev securing an early takedown or first-round submission.
De Ridder predicted that if Chimaev fails to secure an early finish, the momentum would shift in Du Plessis` favor.
He elaborated that “Every round he doesn’t choke him out is going to get worse for him,” attributing this to Du Plessis` unorthodox style and powerful striking, suggesting a potentially difficult night for Chimaev.
Du Plessis has consistently surprised opponents in the UFC with his effective, albeit sometimes unconventional, techniques.
De Ridder believes this unpredictability stemming from Du Plessis` awkward style is precisely what makes him a challenging opponent.
He praised Du Plessis` relentless pace and explosiveness, even when appearing fatigued. Considering all factors, De Ridder leans towards Dricus du Plessis winning, while acknowledging Chimaev`s capabilities, stating, “I think Dricus has a good chance.”
De Ridder mentioned sharing a regional organization with Du Plessis years before their UFC careers, although they never competed. They later trained together, and De Ridder holds positive views on Du Plessis, despite planning to pursue the title held by the winner of his upcoming fight.
He described Du Plessis as “a good dude,” likening his friendly and energetic personality to his fighting style (“all over the place”). De Ridder sees a potential future fight against Du Plessis as an exciting prospect.
