Reinier de Ridder promised he wasn’t losing any time after signing with the UFC and his co-main occasion towards Bo Nickal on Saturday at UFC Des Moines may put him on the cusp of title competition with a win.
Already 2-0 within the group, the previous two-division ONE champion has an opportunity to knock off one of many brightest prospects within the sport, which may arguably do extra for him than taking out the next ranked opponent. Whereas de Ridder is aware of he’s nearly actually not going to get a title shot with only one extra win, he expects beating Nickal to place him on the quick listing of potential contenders who will finally battle for the possibility to face the winner of the upcoming battle between middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.
“That’s what I’m pondering,” de Ridder informed MMA Combating about his title battle hopes. “As a result of loads of guys on the prime have already fought one another so yeah, who is aware of. If I can do that the correct method, choke him out early, I believe I’ve one thing to say a minimum of.”
As a middleweight working his method up the rankings, de Ridder all the time had a vested curiosity within the title battle between du Plessis and Chimaev, which continues to be awaiting an precise date in 2025.
However extra than simply watching as a attainable opponent for the winner down the highway, de Ridder additionally frolicked working with each du Plessis and Chimaev previously so he’s bought a little bit extra data on how this matchup may truly play out.
“I’ve had some expertise with each of the blokes. I’ve skilled with each of them,” de Ridder mentioned. “I’d say particularly in a 5 spherical battle, Khamzat is most probably going to return out weapons blazing once more, shoot immediately however Dricus will not be that straightforward to take down. He strikes very properly, though it seems to be a bit humorous at occasions. His footwork will not be that dangerous. He will get out. He circles fairly properly.
“I don’t see Khamzat taking him down immediately and to be trustworthy, I don’t see Khamzat choking him out within the first spherical.”
If Chimaev can’t get the early end, de Ridder expects du Plessis to actually take over with every passing minute within the battle.
“Each spherical he doesn’t choke him out goes to worsen for him,” de Ridder mentioned about Chimaev. “As a result of with that unorthodox fashion of Dricus and people heavy palms, I believe it is perhaps a protracted night time for Khamzat.”
Since first arriving within the UFC, du Plessis has repeatedly discovered methods to shock his opponents regardless of not all the time using probably the most conventional strategies.
As awkward because it seems to be at occasions, de Ridder believes that’s what makes du Plessis such a troublesome matchup as a result of it’s practically unimaginable to foretell what he’ll do subsequent.
“He retains going,” de Ridder mentioned. “That’s the loopy factor. He seems to be useless drained, the method [just goes out the door] however one way or the other he stays sturdy, stays very explosive. I’m going with Dricus however Khamzat could be cool, too, if it will get it. However I believe Dricus has a great probability.”
Years earlier than each of them have been within the UFC, de Ridder truly frolicked in the identical regional group as du Plessis however they by no means crossed paths. They finally skilled collectively and de Ridder has nothing however reward for the time he spent working with du Plessis however that received’t cease him from going after his UFC title.
“Dricus is an effective dude, too, by the way in which,” de Ridder mentioned. “Due to the language, I can perceive what he says in Afrikaans. He’s fairly just like his combating fashion — everywhere, ADHD — however very good, very pleasant man. I believe that will be a really cool battle to get down the road.”
