Reinier de Ridder is content in the UFC after a contentious split with ONE Championship, criticizing his former promotion for lack of activity and expressing eagerness to face top opponents like Khamzat Chimaev.
Reinier de Ridder seems much happier now that he’s settled in the UFC. Despite holding titles in two weight divisions at ONE Championship, his departure was anything but amicable. He hasn’t had many kind words for them since.
While de Ridder mostly stayed mum about his split from ONE, he recently broke his silence. At the UFC Vegas 100 post-fight press conference, he issued a stern warning to fighters eyeing ONE Championship. “If you’re thinking of signing with ONE Championship, don’t,” he said bluntly.
The Dutch Knight didn’t dive deep into his grievances, but inactivity was a significant issue. In 2022, he fought three times but then vanished from competition in 2023, save for a grappling bout with Tye Ruotolo. Early 2024 saw him return, only to lose to Anatoly Malykhin before making a brief stop at UAE Warriors and eventually landing in the UFC.
“It’s been a rough couple of years,” de Ridder confessed. The stress took its toll on him and his family. He acknowledged some positive experiences with ONE early on but lamented how things soured over time.
There was one thing de Ridder missed about ONE: the glittering post-fight celebrations. “It looks cool,” he admitted, but quickly added that everything else there was less than desirable.
Despite lingering ill feelings towards ONE, de Ridder has moved forward. His recent win over Gerald Meerschart at UFC Vegas 100 proved pivotal. Facing another skilled grappler presented challenges, but the outcome mattered most.
“I made some mistakes on the floor,” de Ridder noted about his performance. He went for D’arce chokes that weren’t quite there but learned valuable lessons along the way.
Victory positioned de Ridder as a rising star in the middleweight division. Not one to rest on his laurels, he’s eager for more challenges in the UFC octagon.
When asked about future opponents, de Ridder didn’t hesitate to call out Khamzat Chimaev. “That would be a nice matchup,” he mused, envisioning an exciting grappling showdown.
Whoever stands across from him next, de Ridder is just thrilled to have a packed schedule thanks to the UFC’s opportunities. “Whatever the UFC wants of me, I’ll do it,” he assured confidently.