Fighting athlete Reinier de Ridder has no doubts if he gets the Octagon for a fight with Australian Robert Whittaker in a Etihad Arena sold out with 18,000 spectators in Abu Dhabi. “He is an experienced fighter,” he looks ahead. “A former champion and legend in our sport. He is explosive and has a good right hand. But I have prepared myself for this guy. I’m going to grab him.”
The 34-year-old De Ridder, born in Breda, is the only Dutchman in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Ten months ago he signed his first contract with the largest Mixed-Martial doctor’s organization in the world and then convincingly won against Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland and the talented Bo Nickal.
With a win on Whittaker, a fight may wait for the ‘Dutch Knight’ for the title in the middleweight (-84 kg) against Drus Du Plessis, the current champion from South Africa. “That is certainly possible,” the former physiotherapist suspects. “Only winning is sometimes not enough. It has to be spectacular, with a nice finish.”
“Even if it is also great what Rico Verhoeven is doing there.”
President Donald Trump is a big fan of the UFC and wants to get a gala to the White House. De Ridder does not rule out that the most important sports federation in the martial arts world comes to the Netherlands if he continues to perform well. That would be good for the fame of the sport.
“But don’t be mistaken,” says the Bredanaar. “MMA is already bizarre popular. It is a much larger sport worldwide than kickboxing. Although it is also great what Rico Verhoeven does there.”
MMA is a martial art that combines various martial arts, such as wrestling, judo, kickboxing and Thai boxing. Not everything is allowed, but bumps, stairs, throws and ground fights are allowed. The origin of the sport goes back to the Roman times when Gladiators had the audience entertained in amphitheaters. “Not much has changed in 2000 years,” laughs De Ridder. “That’s how it still goes a bit.”
“I have to win again.”
The fans in Abu Dhabi also long for a spectacle during a fight that Eurosport and HBO Max excluding. De Ridder, former Judoka and two -time winner of a silver slab at the European Brazilian Jiu Jitsu European Championship, closes when he enters the octagonal cage.
“I am thinking of the task that lies in front of me,” says the 1.93 meter long martial artist who has now established himself with his family in Florida, where he can spar with many top fighters in the Henri Hooft gym. “I have to win again.”
