Reinier de Ridder delivered a shocking end to the Bo Nickal hype train at UFC Des Moines, securing a brutal body shot knockout in the co-main event. The dramatic finish brought Nickal`s highly touted undefeated run to a sudden halt.
Billed primarily as a clash of wrestling and grappling styles, de Ridder instead showcased surprisingly effective striking throughout the bout, particularly utilizing devastating knees from the clinch. This persistent attack paid dividends, culminating in a perfectly timed, powerful knee directed at Nickal`s body as he attempted to move away. The impact sent Nickal collapsing to the canvas.
The referee quickly intervened, stopping the contest at the 1:53 mark of the second round, officially ending Nickal`s perfect professional record.
Following the impressive knockout, de Ridder lightheartedly commented on his striking display: “I was just going to say, I’ve been spending so much time in the U.S., I wanted to see if I was still Dutch,” he joked.
He then wasted no time in calling out a significant potential opponent: “I wanted to say this is the best American wrestling you have, right? Now give you the best American striker. [Sean] Strickland, you’re up, buddy! Let’s go,” de Ridder declared.
Prior to securing the knockout, de Ridder had already demonstrated superior control and successfully frustrated Nickal throughout the exchanges. While Nickal threw heavy punches early, de Ridder consistently threatened takedowns and battled for cage position.
Nickal did manage a slick reversal to briefly bring the fight to the ground, but de Ridder adeptly scrambled out of a guillotine choke attempt and gained top control before Nickal eventually worked his way back to his feet.
As the second round began, de Ridder again welcomed the clinch exchanges, where he continued to land hard knees to the body. Nickal appeared increasingly labored in his movement and struggled to maintain position, though he continued to throw powerful punches in an attempt to deter de Ridder.
However, his efforts were unsuccessful. De Ridder responded with more precise strikes, including the decisive knee strike up the middle that connected directly with Nickal`s midsection. The three-time NCAA wrestling champion immediately dropped, prompting referee Mike Beltran to step in swiftly and prevent any further punishment.
The victory marked a significant moment for de Ridder, improving his UFC record to 3-0 and, crucially, defeating one of the promotion`s most highly anticipated prospects in recent memory.
With such a high-profile win, de Ridder is now in a strong position to potentially dictate his next fight, having already issued a challenge to former middleweight champion Sean Strickland.
