Reinier de Ridder (32) from Breda helps people as a physiotherapist, but as a professional cage fighter, he beats his opponents down. On February 25, ‘the fighting physio’ will defend his MMA world title in Singapore. Reinier trains daily in his own gym, right next to the physio practice, which has just opened.
‘Ow!’ After some pushing and pulling, a cramped cry of pain comes from the richly tattooed man on the treatment table. It sounds a bit strange, but he is one of the lucky ones who fits into the busy schedule of physiotherapist Reinier de Ridder.
Because the resident of Breda is perhaps even more often on the judo mat than next to the treatment table. “It is a very nice and beautiful combination for me. I like to help people with physiotherapy and the sport is really for myself. I can put my passion and energy into it. It is a very important part of my life and provides balance. ”
Due to the corona crisis, the still undefeated De Ridder had his last cage fight on April 29 last year and then became world champion in the class up to 103 kilos. He will defend that title on February 25 in Singapore. Opponent is Kiamrian Abbasov who plays for Kyrgyzstan, a country in Central Asia.
“It’s frustrating to wait so long and I’m happy to be allowed again,” says the MMA fighter, who can use (kick) boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo and wrestling during matches. “I am training incredibly hard for this match. I go to the bottom two or three times a day. Abbasov is a good fighter and champion of a lower weight class. He now wants to take the title in my class, but that is not possible happen. I’m going to put a stop to that.”
Reinier walks confidently through his newly opened Combat Brothers gym in Breda. It’s nice and busy at the Brazilian jiu jitsu class. The world champion is an authority in what he does.
But although martial arts are gaining popularity in the Netherlands, Reinier can still walk the streets. The cage fighter here does not (yet) have the stature of, for example, kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven.
“The Netherlands is a separate country in that regard, because we don’t pay attention to top athletes very quickly,” the world champion puts it into perspective. “But in the meantime we are one of the largest martial arts countries in the world. You can best compare my performance with Rico Verhoeven. Although he only does kickboxing and I do all martial arts together. Rico is better known in the Netherlands, but I am in Asia. Still. nice if we can both be successful.”
Training, teaching and working in his physiotherapy practice: the fighting physio Reinier de Ridder is a busy man. But he thoroughly enjoys it. “There’s a lot of gas going on here every day,” he concludes. “It’s a good combination for a beautiful life.”