Reinier de Ridder has come closer to a title fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The 34-year-old martial artist from Breda has also won his fourth competition in the largest Mixed-Martial doctor organization in the world. He beat Australian Robert Whittaker, the former champion in the class up to 84 kilograms on Saturday night. The jury pointed out the ‘Dutch Knight’ after five laps as the winner in a Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi sold out with 18,000 spectators.
Whittaker was the better boxer in the Octagon, De Ridder tried to demolish his opponent in a ground fight. “I hoped that I would beat him in the first round,” said the former judoka just after his victory. “He was so strong. It wasn’t easy for me. But after this victory I want more now.”
Lump belt
De Ridder drew ten months ago at the UFC. He then won convincingly against Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland and the talented Bo Nickal. After his victory, the Bredanaar hopes for a fight for the title in the class up to 84 kilograms. On August 16, champion Drus Du Plessis from South Africa and the Russian Khamzat Chimaev are fighting the champion belt in the middleweight. De Ridder hopes that he can challenge the winner of this game. That fight could just take place in the White House, because US President Donald Trump is a big fan of the UFC.
The knight fought a head party for the first time during a Gala from the UFC. The two -time winner of a silver slab at the European Brazilian Jiu Jitsu European Championship now lives with his family in Florida, where he can spar with many top fighters in the Henri Hooft gym.
‘What a year I have had’
“Whittaker is the toughest bastard I have ever hit,” he said with a plaster above his left eye in front of the Eurosport camera. “I really need time to process everything. I am tired and want to lie on the beach and play with my children. What a year I have had. Really bizarre.”