Reinier de Ridder, initially an underdog, gained significant recognition in the UFC by defeating Bo Nickal with a knockout, impressing former rival Anatoly Malykhin, who praised de Ridder’s skills and predicted further success against top fighters like Robert Whittaker.
Reinier de Ridder didn’t burst onto the UFC scene with the same buzz as Bo Nickal, the three-time NCAA champ. Yet, he left their fight with more fanfare after delivering a knockout that stunned the wrestling star.
Despite entering as a heavy underdog, de Ridder flipped the script. In the first round, he held Nickal down, then unleashed brutal knee strikes in the second, sealing the deal. Anatoly Malykhin, the ONE champion, wasn’t surprised. He’s the only fighter to have defeated de Ridder, twice no less.
“De Ridder was my toughest opponent,” Malykhin shared with MMA Fighting. “He was a double champ in the top league. Bo Nickal? Not on the same level. Someone hyped him up, but now we see his true standing.”
De Ridder’s record was 6-0 in ONE Championship before facing Malykhin. Now, he’s in the UFC, cutting to 185 pounds, and the division should be on high alert. Underestimate him at your peril.
After witnessing de Ridder’s victory over Nickal at UFC Des Moines, Malykhin sent his congratulations. That win boosted de Ridder to 3-0 in the UFC, and Malykhin couldn’t be happier.
Malykhin, a history-making three-division champion in ONE, credits de Ridder for pushing him to his limits. “Our rivalry made me a different fighter,” he said. “Those were the hardest training sessions ever. I respect him immensely.”
Their rivalry was a spectacle, and Malykhin hopes they might clash again, perhaps in a grappling match. De Ridder’s win catapulted him into the spotlight, but celebrations were short-lived. A new fight offer came just days later.
In July, de Ridder faces a step up in competition against former champ Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi. He might be the underdog again, but Malykhin believes de Ridder will prevail.
“Whittaker’s a great fighter,” Malykhin noted. “But he’s on the decline after Chimaev broke him mentally and physically.”
Malykhin predicts a submission victory for de Ridder, potentially leading to a title shot. Even before this fight, Malykhin considers him a top contender in the UFC middleweight division.