Reinier de Ridder picked up the largest win of his profession on Saturday after beating former champion Robert Whittaker within the UFC Abu Dhabi fundamental occasion, however he didn’t escape criticism from one other veteran middleweight.
Simply moments after having his hand raised in a split-decision victory to maneuver to 4-0 within the UFC, de Ridder was subjected to a message from Paulo Costa, who’s simply days faraway from his resolution win over Roman Kopylov at UFC 318. Costa, who obtained again on observe after shedding two in a row, clearly gained some confidence along with his success as he took purpose at de Ridder for his efficiency.
“With all due respect, I’d knock out de Ridder three [times each] spherical,” Costa wrote on Twitter. “All that stated congrats in your win at present, regardless of unhealthy combat.”
With all due respect, I’d knock out de Ridder 3 x wich spherical. All that stated congrats in your win at present , regardless of unhealthy combat.
— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) July 26, 2025
Now Costa’s knockout prediction might sound slightly odd contemplating he hasn’t completed an opponent since 2018 however that’s neither right here nor there.
Clearly it didn’t hassle de Ridder an excessive amount of, particularly after he was reminded that Costa misplaced a unanimous resolution to Whittaker once they clashed again in 2024.
“There’s all the time a hater on the market,” de Ridder stated when requested about Costa’s feedback. “Did Paulo Costa by no means combat Whittaker? What occurred?”
An enormous smile crept throughout de Ridder’s face as he was reminded of Costa’s lead to his personal combat in opposition to Whittaker.
So far as what truly unfolded on Saturday, de Ridder felt assured in his victory after two judges gave him the combat with 48-47 scorecards over Whittaker.
“I’ve obtained to observe this again. No less than the final two rounds, proper? Possibly the second as effectively,” de Ridder stated about which rounds he gained. “I obtained on prime a few instances. I harm him a few instances with the knee however this man is a troublesome man. He was arduous to place away. He did wonderful. I feel I stated it a few instances already however among the finest Rob’s I’ve seen in years. He was so calm, collected, very explosive. It was arduous work this time.
“I used to be stunned one choose scored it fully improper. I believed I had three rounds no less than. However it’s what it’s. I hoped to complete him, and I didn’t so that you by no means know what the judges make of it. I’ll you’ll want to end the following man once more.”
Whereas it’s fairly clear that Costa is nowhere on his radar after taking out Whittaker at UFC Abu Dhabi, de Ridder can solely maintain out hope that maybe a title shot is ready him sooner or later.
The middleweight belt goes up for grabs at UFC 319 when reigning champion Dricus du Plessis faces Khamzat Chimaev in the principle occasion. A month later, Nassourdine Imavov seems to be to construct off his knockout win over Israel Adesanya when he faces Caio Borralho within the UFC Paris headliner.
Along with his personal win over Whittaker on Saturday, de Ridder believes he’s in a very good place however he can’t say for certain what’s subsequent till the whole lot else performs out first.
“We’ll see what occurs,” de Ridder stated. “There’s rather a lot occurring within the middleweight division within the subsequent couple of weeks. As you stated, I’m a prime 5 fighter on this planet. That’s loopy. Who can say that? In a single yr and I feel I’ve a very good probability preventing for a title sometime quickly. We’ll see.
“Hopefully [I’ll fight for the title], we’ll see what occurs. There’s lots of stuff occurring within the middleweight division arising within the subsequent few months. I’m a prime 5 fighter on this planet. I need to show that I’m one of the best. I need to get again within the gymnasium, work on all of the stuff that occurred on this combat. However first, I would like some rest for a few weeks I feel.”
