September 25, 2024 12:50 pm ET
Reinier de Ridder has actually been patiently awaiting his time to sign up with the UFC lineup. Now that it’s here, he means to take advantage of it.
Previous two-division ONE Championship titleholder de Ridder (17-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) just recently signed an agreement with the UFC and is set to make his launching versus Gerald Meerschaert (37-17 MMA, 12-9 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 247 on Nov. 9 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. He stated the finalizing was an item of a strategy put in location by his group at Dominance MMA, with supervisor Ali Abdelaziz being an “critical” part of the procedure.
De Ridder confesses he can just state so much about how the relocation became. His last battle with ONE Championship remained in March, and later he signed a one-fight handle UAE Warriors, which ONE Championship declared was a breach of agreement. De Ridder combated and won the battle in July by first-round TKO, and now here he is.
“I do not believe I can inform you guys whatever today,” de Ridder informed MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “A great deal of things occurred. Fortunately whatever formed. We had a strategy, and all of it exercised essentially. I’ve had a great deal of good ideas occur to me at the time I invested with ONE. I’ve had remarkable chances with them, and it was excellent for a very long time. And it hasn’t been so excellent for a little while. Possibly one day I’ll talk a bit more about it, however for now I’ll keep my cards near to my chest.”
Less is more?
Reinier de Ridder at ONE 166
De Ridder confessed there were other companies in play with larger quotes for his services, however eventually he followed his more powerful desire to combat for the UFC.
“I’ve constantly taken it one action at a time, however UFC has actually constantly remained in the back of my mind,” de Ridder stated. “Like every fighter, I’m not that unique in this regard. It’s to like that. They can use you two times the cash elsewhere, however everybody still wishes to concern the UFC. We’re all simply dummies, to be sincere. The strategy was to get a battle at UAE, get it done fast as it exercised luckily, then get the ball rolling and indication with UFC. And I’m really pleased this battle got provided to me immediately.”
For de Ridder, the stability and activity guaranteed under the UFC banner was a substantial part of his choice procedure. As far as the weight class? The previous ONE Championship light heavyweight and middleweight titleholder felt the 185-pound department was the very best location for him.
“I’m essentially like 210 walking consuming my typical diet plan and training typically,” de Ridder stated. “It would be a really little cut to go to light heavyweight.