Reinier de Ridder successfully challenged Bo Nickal‘s renowned wrestling skills at UFC Des Moines, using his own grappling and striking abilities to dominate the fight, and expressed interest in facing former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland next.
Reinier de Ridder wasn’t fazed by Bo Nickal’s wrestling accolades before their UFC Des Moines clash. Despite Nickal’s reputation as a three-time NCAA champion, de Ridder planned to challenge him in every aspect of the fight.
Right from the start, de Ridder initiated several clinches. In the first round, he executed a slick reversal, landing on top of Nickal and seeking submissions. By the second round, he was punishing Nickal’s body with a series of knees.
Nickal, heralded as a future champ with top-tier wrestling, found himself tested by de Ridder. It paid off for de Ridder, who wasn’t afraid to engage in Nickal’s strong suit.
“He may be a wrestling god,” de Ridder remarked post-fight. “But focus on what you do well. Don’t get distracted by others.”
Confident in his skills, de Ridder stated, “My jiu-jitsu, my judo, my wrestling—they’re good enough to hang with anyone.”
Though he hasn’t rewatched the fight, de Ridder knew his grappling and striking turned the tide. Nickal’s movement slowed, evidence of de Ridder’s effective striking.
“It wasn’t too bad, right?” de Ridder reflected. He described how he gained space in the clinch and landed knees. In the second round, he found himself on top, impressed by Nickal’s defense.
Not having seen the finish yet, de Ridder recalled hitting Nickal with a hook and knee. He noticed Nickal dropping his hands, a sign of fatigue, and capitalized on it.
Known for his submissions, de Ridder emphasized his Dutch roots, a nation famous for producing elite strikers. “I’m still Dutch,” he quipped.
Looking ahead, de Ridder called for a fight with former champ Sean Strickland. Strickland, without a current opponent, seemed like a perfect next challenge.
“I might regret it,” de Ridder joked about Strickland’s trash talk. “But I want to face the best American striker.”
He added, “Sean’s a character. Top five, right? It’s an intriguing matchup. His jab’s good, mine’s not bad either. I’d love that fight.”