The Dutch Knight Reinier de Ridder makes a name for himself in prestigious UFC after third victory over American MMA fighter

In the run -up to the Kooigevecht with the American wrestling talent Bo Nickal, the Dutchman Reinier de Ridder was « one hundred percent » for sure, he told Eurosport confidently. The Dutch Knight would come out of the cage as the winner in the Arena of des Moines on Sunday morning.

It turns out not to be a big speech. In the second round he manages to touch the Nickal rib cage with his left knee, causing the American to go down. As a result, De Ridder also wins his third match in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the highest competition for MMA fighters, in which he is the only Dutchman to be active.

MMA, Mixed Martial Arts Or popularly cage rights, is a combination of kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and struggling. As a result, a fighter must be able to change discipline quickly during a party. A standing fight can turn into a wrestling part in a few seconds. Due to that multitude of styles there is a lot. All his stairs against the head or piercing with a finger in someone’s eye out of the question.

MMA has become world famous in two decades in particular thanks to the UFC and (especially) immensely popular among young people. In 2024, the UFC managed to raise $ 1.3 billion in income, with an operating result of almost 60 percent, according to an estimate of Business magazine Forbes. Every year the UFC says it organizes more than forty events, which are viewed worldwide by 1.1 billion households. The comments are provided in 35 different languages, including Dutch.

Physiotherapy

De Ridder (Tilburg, 1990) starts with Judo as a five -year -old. Later he focuses on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, where the focus is on ground fights and strangles. In 2013 he makes his professional MMA debut. « At MMA you cannot run away or win defensively, » he gives as an explanation at Omroep Brabant. He calls the sport « more sincer to ».

After studying physiotherapy, for which he moves to Breda, De Ridder runs a practice with his partner for a number of years. That is fine in addition to the two to three hours of training a day, he thinks. « Many guests go gaming after the training, but I am not like that, » he tells Omroep Brabant. Even before he was thirty, he, together with his bosom friend and coach Harun Özkan, also the martial arts school Combat Brothers, also opens in Breda.

In 2018 De Ridder will join the Asian One Championship, where the Dutchman of 1.93 meters becomes champion in the middle and heavyweight. But after sixteen unbeaten MMA parties, he loses twice in a row of the Russian heavyweight Anatoly Malykhin. Once the Russian hits the Ridder. « I think: I walk forward, pull it to the floor and choke (stink) him. That’s how I always do it. But that wasn’t« De Ridder later looks back on the loss, in the podcast outside the cage. » But I was able to give it a place fairly easily. I was okay, had no long -term damage. « 

It is always annoying to lose, but a knockout is deeper than just pain, says former MMA fighter Semmy Schilt. This way a trauma can arise. « From my own experience I know that it can take a few parties for the confidence to come back. If you see another leg or fist, then you are inclined to knock out again. And that is not the intention. »

Strangulation

Last September The Dutch Knight The switch to the prestigious UFC. Two months later he can prove himself against the renowned American fighter Gerald Meerschaert. With a strangulation, he manages to tap the American.

Not much later, in January, he is also in charge of the American Kevin Holland. As the first Dutchman since 2017, he wins during a UFC head program. According to Forbes the Dutchman receives $ 210,000 (around 186,000 euros) for the profit. Half of the amount is a victory bonus. Due to the performance, De Ridder ends up in the top 15, in 13th place.

« He can lock up the neck of his opponent very Sneaky. He often surprises opponents because of his long arms and legs, » says Stefan Struve, who fought in the UFC for more than ten years and is now MMA analyst at Eurosport. « He has to improve his standing work. He is not very fast and his punches are not very good. »

Relocation

That De Ridder is the only Dutchman in the UFC is partly due to the popularity of kickboxing in the Netherlands, says Struve. « If Rico Verhoeven had focused on MMA ten years ago, he would now also be at the top. » Incidentally, good Dutch kickboxers, according to Struve, think about a UFC career, because it generates more money than kickboxing. « But a transfer first requires a lot of training, for example in wrestling. Preferably in the United States. »

In preparation for the fight with Nickal, De Ridder went to seven weeks Kill Cliff FCThe fighting school of the former Dutch kick boxer Henri Hooft in Florida. « The difference with training at home is the amount of good guests here. An infinite stock of pros, » De Ridder said at Eurosport. He now wants to live in the US for a year, as a trial. His two children must start at an American school next school year is the idea.

After the match against Nickal, De Ridder is asked in the cage who he wants to be the next opponent. « (Nickal) is the best American wrestler you had, right? » Says De Ridder as he looks in the camera. « Give me the best American Striker now (an MMA fighter who prefers to fight standing) Sean Strickland! Let’s go!« He shouts challenging.

Overhulpin after the win? As a founder De Ridder uses his knees so well again, he certainly also has a chance against the number three of his weight class, Struve decides.

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