Dutch combined martial artist, Reinier de Ridder has received two silver medals within the European Championships throughout his profession and likewise held two titles on the identical time in ONE Championship after capturing the ONE Middleweight MMA title in addition to the sunshine heavyweight belt. Now, the person they name “The Dutch Knight” is dealing with probably the most tough section of his profession. After shedding his ONE Mild Heavyweight MMA World Championship to Anatoly Malykhin again in December, 2022, de Ridder will now defend his middleweight crown in opposition to the identical man that took his light-weight belt. M&F caught up with Reinier de Ridder as he prepares for this essential match forward of ONE 166.
“I’m a middleweight, and after I fought at gentle heavyweight I used to be like at 97 kilos (214 kilos). I perhaps placed on round 2 kilos of fats and that’s about it,” the 6’3” de Ridder says about straddling two weight lessons. “I’ve by no means actually been on the prime of the burden restrict for gentle heavyweight. So, middleweight is my weight class, my pure weight class, and (the burden) is straightforward to make for me. I’m not the heaviest man within the middleweights so it is a great place for me.”
Reinier De Ridder Is Throwing Our bodies Round Within the Gymnasium
After all, middleweight is the division that de Ridder hopes to take care of possession of when he faces his outdated nemesis, Malykhin, on March 1, however the final a number of months have additionally offered de Ridder with some uplifting moments whereas coaching at his Fight Brothers Gymnasium within the Netherlands. “My power and conditioning, I do on the gymnasium,” he says. “I’ve my physio follow there. The gymnasium itself is sweet. During the last couple of years, all the nice guys from our space, like all the highest Belgian guys have flocked to our gymnasium. All of the Dutch prime guys have come to our gymnasium, so I’ve quite a lot of our bodies to work with. I’ve all the things at my disposal, and I’ve put it to good use over the past yr.”
For Reinier de Ridder, his Fight Brothers gymnasium additionally supplies a possibility to share his huge MMA information and expertise with newer athletes. “it’s very cool,” says the middleweight champ. “I actually take pleasure in educating the children. I don’t do it each week, however now and again I’ll step in and take over the lessons, which is de facto enjoyable. You see them actually develop.” de Ridder himself has undergone his personal private progress after being knocked out in devastating vogue by Malykhin in late 2022. He’d racked up 16 wins in professional MMA earlier than shedding his gentle heavyweight belt.
De Ridder’s Fights His Weaknesses to Develop into The Greatest Potential Fighter
“I’ve had quite a bit to study, after all, from that combat,” says de Ridder. “It didn’t go my means, it didn’t go my means in a serious means, however all of the small little issues that went fallacious, like probably the most primary little issues like me; I used to be too gentle. He had quite a lot of weight on me, which is one thing I corrected. (Then,) from quite a lot of technical stuff; mentally I wasn’t in the appropriate way of thinking at the moment. So, I’ve made an inventory of all the things that went fallacious. I wrote it down and I’ve been grinding at it ever since.”
So, how did de Ridder enhance his weight? “Lifted a sh** ton of weights!” he laughs. “And, eat some extra meals, so I gained a few kilos of mass. I bought somewhat heavier, somewhat stronger, which is vital for this match-up.” The fighter shares that he has been consuming six eggs for lunch and devouring a steak for dinner every single day as a way to bulk up forward an important bout of his illustrious profession. For the primary time ever, ONE Championship is heading to Qatar with ONE 166, broadcasts reside from Lusail Sports activities Area on Friday, March 1. de Ridder tells M&F that he loves ONE Championship’s deal with sportsmanship, and says he appreciates the truth that there may be much less “trash speaking” earlier than fights. The must-see blockbuster occasion shall be stacked with three World Title clashes in whole, that includes a mixture of MMA, Muay Thai, boxing, and submission grappling.
Reinier de Ridder will defend his ONE Middleweight MMA World Championship in opposition to Anatoly Malykhin this Friday at ONE 166: Qatar, reside on Prime Video within the U.S./Canada and on Watch.ONEFC.com all over the world.
