Dutch blended martial artist, Reinier de Ridder has gained two silver medals within the European Championships throughout his profession and in addition 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 part 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 towards 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 once I fought at gentle heavyweight I used to be like at 97 kilos (214 kilos). I possibly 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 simple 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 Health club
In fact, middleweight is the division that de Ridder hopes to take care of possession of when he faces his outdated nemesis, Malykhin, on March 1, however the final a number of months have additionally supplied de Ridder with some uplifting moments whereas coaching at his Fight Brothers Health club within the Netherlands. “My power and conditioning, I do on the gymnasium,” he says. “I’ve my physio apply there. The gymnasium itself is sweet. Over the past 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 loads of our bodies to work with. I’ve the whole lot at my disposal, and I’ve put it to good use during the last 12 months.”
For Reinier de Ridder, his Fight Brothers gymnasium additionally gives a chance to share his huge MMA data and expertise with newer athletes. “it’s very cool,” says the middleweight champ. “I actually get pleasure from educating the youngsters. I don’t do it each week, however every now and then I’ll step in and take over the lessons, which is actually enjoyable. You see them actually develop.” de Ridder himself has undergone his personal private development after being knocked out in devastating trend 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 Change into The Finest Attainable Fighter
“I’ve had lots to be taught, after all, from that battle,” 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 flawed, like probably the most fundamental little issues like me; I used to be too gentle. He had loads of weight on me, which is one thing I corrected. (Then,) from loads of technical stuff; mentally I wasn’t in the best state of mind at the moment. So, I’ve made an inventory of the whole lot that went flawed. 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 received a little bit heavier, a little bit 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 on daily basis to be able 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 dwell from Lusail Sports activities Area on Friday, March 1. de Ridder tells M&F that he loves ONE Championship’s give attention to sportsmanship, and says he appreciates the truth that there may be much less “trash speaking” earlier than fights. The must-see blockbuster occasion might 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 towards Anatoly Malykhin this Friday at ONE 166: Qatar, dwell on Prime Video within the U.S./Canada and on Watch.ONEFC.com all over the world.
