Reinier de Ridder’s biggest UFC win to date came with mixed emotions.
De Ridder (20-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC), a former ONE Championship two-division world champion, recently secured the biggest victory of his career by stopping the previously unbeaten Nickal (7-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) in the co-main event at UFC Des Moines last month.
Nickal entered the fight as a heavy favorite to defeat “RDR,” but once the action began, it was clear the Dutchman wasn’t there just to make up the numbers.
Although de Ridder is best known for his dangerous submission grappling, it was his striking that gave Nickal the most trouble. A series of punishing knees to the American’s body eventually sent Nickal collapsing to the canvas in the second round, marking de Ridder’s third consecutive finish since joining the UFC in late 2024.
In the aftermath, Nickal became the target of online abuse from some fans—something de Ridder was quick to condemn.
"Yeah, I don't like that stuff," De Ridder said this week during an interview with MMA Junkie. "It's not a nice part of our culture at the moment that people will hate on somebody online like that. I've said this a couple of times in interviews after the fight, but it's pretty easy for him to get away from. He doesn't need to be on social media. He can just put the phone down for a couple of days and it would have been over. He wouldn't have had to take all the negative stuff in, but I don't believe he did. He got most of it in his mind, but it is what it is. I think he'll be back. He'll be back stronger than ever next time."
Since making his UFC debut last November, Reinier de Ridder has racked up finishes over Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and now Bo Nickal. His next challenge comes against former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker when the promotion returns to Abu Dhabi on July 26.
If de Ridder can get past “The Reaper,” he could very well find himself in the middleweight title conversation. And in his view, that would ultimately reflect positively on Bo Nickal’s standing as well.
"If I keep doing well, then it would be good for him as well," De Ridder said. "I think we'll see him maybe in a longer time frame. I hope he takes some time off and really works on specific stuff. But if he gets one win in, everybody's back on the Bo Nickal train ride."
