Reinier de Ridder`s arrival in the UFC may not have generated the same immense anticipation as three-time NCAA wrestling champion Bo Nickal, but he arguably departed their recent bout with even greater acclaim after securing a dominant knockout against the accomplished wrestler.
Despite entering the fight as a significant underdog, de Ridder demonstrated that the betting lines were inaccurate. He successfully controlled Nickal on the ground in the first round before unleashing a series of devastating knee strikes to the body to finish the fight in the second. None of this outcome surprised ONE 205-pound champion Anatoly Malykhin, who holds the distinction of being the only fighter to defeat de Ridder, having done so twice between 2022 and 2024.
“Honestly, de Ridder has been my most challenging opponent,” Malykhin commented. “He is an excellent champion. He held two belts in a premier global league. And Bo Nickal? He isn`t a top-tier fighter. He operates at a different standard. Someone simply placed faith in him and positioned him as a young UFC sensation. Now his true level is apparent.
“De Ridder was 6-0 in ONE Championship, including all his initial victories, before we fought. He was ranked in both light heavyweight and middleweight divisions, and now he’s in the UFC, cutting to 185 pounds. The entire division is seriously threatened. Do not underestimate this individual. Those who do will face significant difficulties.”
After witnessing de Ridder`s finish of Nickal at UFC Des Moines, Malykhin sent congratulations to his former opponent for the success he`s achieving in his new fighting environment.
That victory improved de Ridder`s UFC record to 3-0, and Malykhin expressed considerable pleasure for him.
While Malykhin has attained numerous achievements in his own career, including being the first and only three-division champion in ONE history, the powerful Russian credits de Ridder as the fighter who pushed him the most.
“I am truly thankful for the rivalry de Ridder and I shared,” Malykhin stated. “He transformed me as a fighter. I never trained for anyone else with the same intensity as I did for him. Those training camps were the toughest of my life, not just physically but also in making me mentally tougher. I hold immense respect for him.
“I`m pleased for him and his victories in the UFC. I`m glad our rivalry was so compelling and produced such exciting bouts for the fans. Furthermore, I hope we might face off again someday, perhaps as two experienced fighters, maybe even in a grappling contest.”
Although the win against Nickal significantly boosted his profile in the UFC, de Ridder had little time to savor the victory, as he received an offer for his next fight just days afterward.
This July, de Ridder is set for a considerable increase in competition, facing former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the headlining bout of a UFC Fight Night event scheduled for Abu Dhabi.
While de Ridder might again enter the fight as the underdog, Malykhin is certain the Dutch fighter will succeed and secure a win over Whittaker.
“Certainly, Whittaker is a formidable fighter and will be a tough opponent,” Malykhin commented. “However, I believe he has been competing for a long time and is now past his prime. He isn`t in the same physical state as when he was champion. I think Khamzat Chimaev broke him after their fight, both psychologically and physically by fracturing his jaw.
“Therefore, this fight will likely resemble the Chimaev-Whittaker bout. I anticipate de Ridder will win, most probably by submission.”
Should Malykhin`s forecast prove correct, de Ridder could soon be in contention for a title shot. Malykhin contends that even before the Whittaker fight, his former adversary should already be regarded as one of the top middleweights in the UFC.
“Analyzing de Ridder`s performance in the division, he undeniably poses a threat,” Malykhin concluded. “I believe he ranks among the top 3 in the division currently.”
Wesley Dunham