Reinier de Ridder
The Dutch Knight
Netherlands
Drops decision in Vegas
De Ridder lost to Caio Borralho via unanimous decision (27-30, 27-30, 27-30) at UFC 326 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It was another highly concerning performance from de Ridder, although the fight was closer than the sweep on the scorecards would lead you to believe. In fact, RDR won the total strike battle by a 111-71 count in addition to landing two takedowns compared to just one for Borralho. The main issue for de Ridder, as was repeatedly mentioned on the broadcast, was the fact he didn't appear to be throwing anything with the intent of hurting his opponent. Most of the shots he landed were marginal, at best, in terms of damage. The fact de Ridder looked healthy following his woeful effort in a loss to Brendan Allen last October will be of little solace. RDR began his UFC run with four straight wins but it's been all downhill since. He's essentially already out of the title picture at 185 pounds.
It was another highly concerning performance from de Ridder, although the fight was closer than the sweep on the scorecards would lead you to believe. In fact, RDR won the total strike battle by a 111-71 count in addition to landing two takedowns compared to just one for Borralho. The main issue for de Ridder, as was repeatedly mentioned on the broadcast, was the fact he didn't appear to be throwing anything with the intent of hurting his opponent. Most of the shots he landed were marginal, at best, in terms of damage. The fact de Ridder looked healthy following his woeful effort in a loss to Brendan Allen last October will be of little solace. RDR began his UFC run with four straight wins but it's been all downhill since. He's essentially already out of the title picture at 185 pounds.
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Looks to bounce back vs. Borralho
De Ridder will face Caio Borralho in a middleweight matchup in the co-main event of UFC 326 on March 7 in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Both de Ridder and his opponent are coming off devastating losses that derailed what would have been a clear path to a title shot at 185 pounds, so this fight is essentially to remain in the title picture. De Ridder holds three-inch height and reach advantages, and is primarily a submission threat, though Borralho sports a 76 percent takedown defense and has never been submitted in his career. On the feet, Borralho holds the advantage in striking volume and power.
Both de Ridder and his opponent are coming off devastating losses that derailed what would have been a clear path to a title shot at 185 pounds, so this fight is essentially to remain in the title picture. De Ridder holds three-inch height and reach advantages, and is primarily a submission threat, though Borralho sports a 76 percent takedown defense and has never been submitted in his career. On the feet, Borralho holds the advantage in striking volume and power.
Crushing main event defeat
De Ridder lost to Brendan Allen via TKO (corner stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 4 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Vancouver.
ANALYSIS
Almost certainly closing in on a title shot with a win, de Ridder agreed to fight Allen here after Anthony Hernandez was forced to withdraw due to injury. It turned out to be a bad, bad move. RDR was able to get his grappling going in Round 1, winning the frame on all three scorecards, yet once Round 2 began, the script flipped entirely. It was Allen that ended up in a dominant position over and over. De Ridder gassed badly and almost immediately. He barely got off the stool to start Round 4, and his corner, sensing the trouble he was in, would not let RDR off the stool to begin Round 5. Once loss to a talented opponent shouldn't be the end of the world for de Ridder, but he's 35 years old and looked bad today, so there are concerns moving forward.
Almost certainly closing in on a title shot with a win, de Ridder agreed to fight Allen here after Anthony Hernandez was forced to withdraw due to injury. It turned out to be a bad, bad move. RDR was able to get his grappling going in Round 1, winning the frame on all three scorecards, yet once Round 2 began, the script flipped entirely. It was Allen that ended up in a dominant position over and over. De Ridder gassed badly and almost immediately. He barely got off the stool to start Round 4, and his corner, sensing the trouble he was in, would not let RDR off the stool to begin Round 5. Once loss to a talented opponent shouldn't be the end of the world for de Ridder, but he's 35 years old and looked bad today, so there are concerns moving forward.
Receives new opponent
De Ridder will face Brendan Allen in a middleweight bout at UFC Vancouver on Oct. 18, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
With Anthony Hernandez (undisclosed) out, Allen will look to improve his professional record to 26-7-0 against de Ridder. De Ridder, 6-foot-4 southpaw, holds a professional record of 21-2-0 and has won five consecutive bouts, including four in a row to begin his UFC run.
With Anthony Hernandez (undisclosed) out, Allen will look to improve his professional record to 26-7-0 against de Ridder. De Ridder, 6-foot-4 southpaw, holds a professional record of 21-2-0 and has won five consecutive bouts, including four in a row to begin his UFC run.
Taking on Hernandez
De Ridder will face Anthony Hernandez in a middleweight bout at UFC Vancouver on October 18, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
De Ridder is off to an excellent start in his UFC career, sitting at a perfect 4-0 to compliment his sparking 21-2 overall pro MMA record. His last time in the Octagon, he bested Robert Whittaker via split decision. Now, he'll face an opponent in Hernandez who hasn't lost a bout since 2020.
De Ridder is off to an excellent start in his UFC career, sitting at a perfect 4-0 to compliment his sparking 21-2 overall pro MMA record. His last time in the Octagon, he bested Robert Whittaker via split decision. Now, he'll face an opponent in Hernandez who hasn't lost a bout since 2020.
Remains perfect in UFC
De Ridder defeated Robert Whittaker via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
ANALYSIS
De Ridder has now won all four of his UFC bouts since debuting last November, including victories over Whittaker, Bo Nickal and Kevin Holland. On the whole, he was unquestionably the better man in this fight. He remained aggressive throughout, while Whittaker faded after a hot start. The issue for RDR is that the biggest blows of the bout came from the Whittaker side. He not only survived a huge Round 3 knockdown, but did enough over the course of the final 10 minutes to steal the fight. De Ridder is a lot like UFC Middleweight Championship Dricus du Plesiss in the sense that he often looks exhausted and gives off bad visuals at time. Yet much like DDP, RDR is constantly working and trying to score points whenever possible, even if they are seemingly inconsequential blows. That can make a big difference in the eyes of the judges, particularly in a decision as close as this one. De Ridder is closing in on a title fight at 185 pounds.
De Ridder has now won all four of his UFC bouts since debuting last November, including victories over Whittaker, Bo Nickal and Kevin Holland. On the whole, he was unquestionably the better man in this fight. He remained aggressive throughout, while Whittaker faded after a hot start. The issue for RDR is that the biggest blows of the bout came from the Whittaker side. He not only survived a huge Round 3 knockdown, but did enough over the course of the final 10 minutes to steal the fight. De Ridder is a lot like UFC Middleweight Championship Dricus du Plesiss in the sense that he often looks exhausted and gives off bad visuals at time. Yet much like DDP, RDR is constantly working and trying to score points whenever possible, even if they are seemingly inconsequential blows. That can make a big difference in the eyes of the judges, particularly in a decision as close as this one. De Ridder is closing in on a title fight at 185 pounds.