Reinier de Ridder is stepping into the spotlight with a wave of global support behind him, as fans hope he’ll derail the growing momentum of Bo Nickal at UFC on ESPN 67.
The high-stakes co-main event takes place tonight at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, where De Ridder will face off against Nickal (7-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC), a decorated former NCAA Division I wrestling champion from Penn State.
Known for his elite grappling and submission skills, De Ridder is aiming to hand Nickal his first professional defeat. He revealed that he’s been receiving messages from supporters around the world—something he’s never experienced before in his career.
"I get that from every part of the world. I don't know why," De Ridder told MMA Junkie. "Maybe because he's a such a prospect or something, but people don't really seem to like him that much. It is what it is. At Kill Cliff, there are a lot of Iowa boys who came here from the wrestling program. They really told me, 'Go get this guy.' People just say, 'He rubs me the wrong way.'"
Nickal's most recent outing at UFC 309 saw him earn a decision victory over Paul Craig, though the performance drew criticism for its conservative approach—he chose to stay on the feet rather than utilize his wrestling. De Ridder knows that a more aggressive strategy will be key if he wants to break through Nickal’s defense and come out on top.
"I believe I have to make this fight, I have to do this," De Ridder said. "I have to get close to him. I have to put the pressure on him. I have to get into wrestling scrambles, I have to get into the clinch, and it doesn't really matter what he wants to do. He gave (Paul Craig) all the time to circle out. He gave him all the time to move, reset, and get ready for that overhand. I learned a lot from the fight. It was a very interesting fight to watch. He wasn't doing bad. Paul Craig was doing pretty well in the striking. But this one is not going to look anything like that."
