Reinier de Ridder has been patiently ready for his time to hitch the UFC roster. Now that it’s right here, he intends to benefit from it.
Former two-division ONE Championship titleholder de Ridder (17-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) not too long ago signed a contract with the UFC and is set to make his debut towards Gerald Meerschaert (37-17 MMA, 12-9 UFC) at UFC Combat Evening 247 on Nov. 9 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. He stated the signing was a product of a plan put in place by his workforce at Dominance MMA, with supervisor Ali Abdelaziz being an “instrumental” a part of the method.
De Ridder admits he can solely say a lot about how the transfer got here to be. His remaining battle with ONE Championship was in March, and afterward he signed a one-fight take care of UAE Warriors, which ONE Championship claimed was a breach of contract. De Ridder fought and received the battle in July by first-round TKO, and now right here he’s.
“I don’t suppose I can inform you guys every little thing proper now,” de Ridder informed MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “Quite a lot of stuff occurred. Fortunately every little thing fell into place. We had a plan, and all of it labored out principally. I’ve had a variety of good issues occur to me on the time I spent with ONE. I’ve had wonderful alternatives with them, and it was excellent for a very long time. And it hasn’t been so good for a short while, as effectively. Possibly someday I’ll discuss a bit bit extra about it, however for now I’ll maintain my playing cards near my chest.”
Much less is extra?
Reinier de Ridder at ONE 166
De Ridder admitted there have been different organizations in play with larger bids for his providers, however in the end he adopted his stronger want to battle for the UFC.
“I’ve all the time taken it one step at a time, however UFC has all the time been at the back of my thoughts,” de Ridder stated. “Like each fighter, I’m not that particular on this regard. It’s to love that. They will give you twice the cash someplace else, however everybody nonetheless desires to come back to the UFC. We’re all simply dummies, to be trustworthy. The plan was to get a battle at UAE, get it completed fast because it labored out fortunately, then get the ball rolling and signal with UFC. And I’m very blissful this battle received supplied to me immediately.”
For de Ridder, the steadiness and exercise promised beneath the UFC banner was a big a part of his determination course of. So far as the burden class? The previous ONE Championship gentle heavyweight and middleweight titleholder felt the 185-pound division was the perfect place for him.
“I’m principally like 210 strolling round consuming my regular eating regimen and coaching usually,” de Ridder stated. “It will be a really small lower to go to gentle heavyweight. To go to middleweight is a tougher lower, but when I eating regimen for a few weeks and do a very good weight lower, will probably be doable. Middleweight it’s. Possibly down the road some gentle heavyweight motion, as effectively. We’ll see the way it all goes.”
Acquainted first foe
De Ridder will get a well-recognized foe in Meerschaert, who has the most finishes and submission wins in UFC middleweight historical past. The pair have skilled collectively previously at Kill Cliff FC in South Florida, and de Ridder stated he’s not shook by Meerschaert’s signature sturdiness and routine means to mount comebacks in his fights.
“He’s a very good man,” de Ridder stated. “I met him in (South Florida). He teaches jiu-jitsu class in Henri Hooft’s fitness center. I used to be truly planning on spending a while there working my camp for my debut, however that didn’t work out, after all. I don’t suppose they’ll have me proper now. I despatched Henri a message that I’ll come out subsequent time. They supplied me this. I stated sure immediately. Very pleased with the matchup. I don’t know what’s subsequent however hopefully they’ve an occasion shortly after and I can get one other one. Who is aware of?
“I’m all the time on the lookout for the end. So will probably be take him down and attempt to choke him out. That’s usually the sport plan, so I don’t suppose I’ll change that an excessive amount of. However he can actually take a punch, and he’s all the time harmful. He has a imply left hook. It would look a bit bit sloppy typically, it’d look a bit awkward typically, however he’s very efficient with what he does. We’ve had some enjoyable classes there in Miami.”
Prepared for the highest
De Ridder, 34, stated he has no time to waste now that he’s within the UFC. He hoped for a top-10 opponent proper off the bat however thinks Meerschaert would be the good bridge to place him on that path for the subsequent battle.
It’s been de Ridder’s dream to combine it up with the likes of Dricus Du Plessis, Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, Robert Whittaker, Khamzat Chimaev, and extra of the marquee names within the UFC middleweight division. Now he’s able to show his price.
“(I’m prepared for these guys) proper now. Let’s go,” de Ridder stated. “I’m prepared. That’s what I’m right here for. It will be so cool to lastly get a shot at these guys. They’ve been round for thus lengthy. I’ve been round for a short while now, as effectively, so it will be very cool to lastly get an opportunity to battle these guys.
“Adesanya, Dricus, Strickland – all of them. Why not? (I get to battle them now) as a substitute of all the time trying in.”
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