As he prepares for the biggest fight of his career this weekend, Reinier de Ridder has his sights set not only on his opponent but also on the top names in the UFC’s middleweight division.
The former ONE Championship two-division titleholder, de Ridder (20-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC), is set to face Robert Whittaker in the main event at UFC Abu Dhabi this Saturday night. Since making his UFC debut in late 2024, “RDR” has quickly turned heads with dominant finishes over Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and Bo Nickal — firmly establishing himself as a serious contender at 185 pounds.
With former UFC champion Whittaker presenting his toughest challenge yet inside the Octagon, de Ridder is also keeping a close eye on the upcoming middleweight title clash between Dricus Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) and Khamzat Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), scheduled to headline UFC 319 in Chicago on August 16.
“I'm still hoping Khamzat pulls out last minute,” de Ridder said during an interview this week with Submission Radio. “It's two weeks after my fight, so maybe we can still get lucky. That'd be nice. Maybe not too nice to make weight again, but we can discuss the terms after.”
Since making his UFC debut on Fight Island in 2020, Khamzat Chimaev has built a fearsome reputation inside the Octagon, with five of his eight UFC victories coming in the first round.
Having spent time training with both Chimaev and Du Plessis, Reinier de Ridder has a clear sense of who he believes will emerge victorious when they meet at UFC 319.
“I'm still leaning towards Dricus because of the experience I have with training with both the guys,” he said. “I just don't see Khamzat finishing him early. I see Dricus building in the third, fourth, fifth round. I see him edging it out, but we'll see. Hopefully it never happens and I can jump in!”
