Reinier de Ridder, after a frustrating period of inactivity at ONE Championship, signed with the UFC where he has been active and successful, culminating in a fight against Robert Whittaker at UFC Abu Dhabi, while relocating his family to Florida to train at Kill Cliff FC.
Reinier de Ridder experienced quite the rollercoaster during his time at ONE Championship. Competing in two divisions, he snagged titles in both middleweight and light heavyweight, staying undefeated. But then, things took a turn.
He lost both belts to Anatoly Malykhin in consecutive fights. Despite this setback, de Ridder was eager to climb the ranks again. However, ONE suddenly stopped booking him, leading to months of frustrating inactivity.
Eventually, he broke free and signed with the UFC, cautioning others about joining ONE. On Saturday at UFC Abu Dhabi, de Ridder will share the card with Marcus Buchecha, another former ONE fighter. Buchecha, too, faced a rough patch before his UFC debut.
“It’s looking good for us, but not for ONE,” de Ridder mentioned to MMA Fighting. He hopes ONE bounces back but remains skeptical. Meanwhile, he’s thrilled to share the card with Buchecha, celebrating their newfound freedom.
ONE has focused heavily on Muay Thai and kickboxing, sidelining many MMA fighters. Buchecha even considered retirement before moving to the UFC. As for de Ridder, he didn’t fight in 2023 until a single ONE appearance in 2024.
He competed once at UAE Warriors in Abu Dhabi before the UFC kept him busy. Now, he’s set to face Robert Whittaker in the main event at UFC Abu Dhabi. This marks his fourth fight with the promotion in just eight months.
“Be careful what you wish for,” de Ridder joked, noting his desire for activity has been fulfilled. It’s his fifth fight in a year, exactly one year since his UAE Warriors bout in Abu Dhabi.
Settling in Florida, he’s found a home and school for his kids, planning more activity next year. Uprooting his family was a big deal but necessary for his career. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he’s closer to his family while chasing UFC gold.
“It’s a huge commitment,” de Ridder admitted. His family is adapting to a new language and culture, but he loves the experience. Training at Kill Cliff is intense, surrounded by top fighters, making it all worthwhile.
With hopes of earning a title shot, de Ridder isn’t slowing down. He’s ready for war, confident nobody will last three rounds with him. Ideally, he aims to finish Whittaker before the final horn.
“I see myself putting pressure on him,” de Ridder predicted. He plans to strike from the outside, close in, take Whittaker down, and aim for a choke. Five-round fights don’t faze him, but he hopes for an early finish.