Leading up to his fight against Bo Nickal at UFC Des Moines, Reinier de Ridder was well aware of Nickal`s acclaimed wrestling background. However, this didn`t deter de Ridder from engaging the three-time NCAA champion in all aspects of the fight during their co-main event clash.
Right from the opening bell, de Ridder proactively sought the clinch multiple times. In the first round, he executed a skillful reversal, ending up in a dominant top position and threatening with submissions. He continued to trap Nickal in similar grappling exchanges in the second round, eventually finding an opportunity to land a series of punishing knees to the body.
Despite Nickal being widely praised as a potential future champion with arguably the best wrestling in the sport, de Ridder never hesitated to test Nickal`s grappling prowess. This approach clearly proved effective for him.
Reflecting on the fight during the post-fight press conference, de Ridder stated, “Maybe he is [a god of wrestling], but I believe this applies to everything in life, especially in fighting: you should focus on your own strengths and what you do well. Don`t get sidetracked by what anyone else brings to the table.” He added emphatically, “It truly doesn’t matter. My jiu-jitsu, my judo, my wrestling are strong enough that I can compete with anyone. Whatever skills they possess, it doesn`t concern me.”
Although he hadn`t yet reviewed the fight footage, de Ridder had a clear sense of how he managed to shift the momentum. He first showcased his grappling ability and then surprised Nickal with his effective striking.
By the fight`s conclusion, Nickal appeared fatigued and his movement was labored. De Ridder attributed this directly to the consistent striking punishment he inflicted while standing.
Commenting on his performance, de Ridder remarked, “It wasn’t too bad, was it?” He noted landing significant strikes: “At one point in the clinch, I was able to create a little space, push his hips away slightly using a whizzer, and then landed a knee in the first round. In the second round, I got on top, but I was surprised by how well he defended from the bottom. It wasn`t easy to immediately control him. I couldn`t posture up right away because he moved quite well. I briefly looked for the side choke, but it wasn`t available.”
Describing the finish, he continued, “I haven’t really seen the ending sequence, but I think I threw a right hook, left knee, hit him coming in, and each time I hit him to the body, I felt his hands drop a little. I noticed him shifting to his right as if he was hurt. Seeing he was hurt, I stepped back, then stepped back in. He hit me with a 1-2, and I thought, ‘That`s not smart.’ Then I hit his body again, I believe, and that`s when I finished him, as I felt he was already fading.”
Although widely known for his dominant submission grappling, de Ridder was quick to point out his heritage from the Netherlands, a country renowned for producing some of the most formidable strikers in the history of combat sports.
De Ridder humorously added, “I’m still Dutch. Deep down, I’m still Dutch.”
Regarding his next move, de Ridder wasted no time in calling out former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland immediately after his victory. Strickland has not competed since his rematch loss to Dricus du Plessis earlier in 2024.
Since Strickland currently has no opponent or fight date scheduled, he is readily available. De Ridder expressed enthusiasm for the prospect of adding Strickland`s name to his list of opponents, even anticipating some of Strickland`s characteristic trash talk.
De Ridder lightheartedly commented on Strickland’s infamous verbal sparring, saying, “I think I might regret it a little bit.” He then referenced his callout from the cage: “As I said in the cage, I just faced the best American wrestler; now let`s see the best American striker.”
He concluded by expressing respect for Strickland: “I like Sean. He’s a funny guy, a genuine character. He`s a top-five fighter, right? I think it`s an interesting matchup stylistically. He has a very good jab. I don’t think my jab is bad either. I would really like that fight. I would absolutely love that fight.”
