Dutch blended martial artist, Renier 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 part of his profession. After dropping 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 Renier de Ridder as he prepares for this crucial match forward of ONE 166.
“I’m a middleweight, and once I fought at mild 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 mild 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 spot for me.”
Renier 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In fact, middleweight is the division that de Ridder hopes to take care of possession of when he faces his outdated nemesis, Malykhin, on March 1, however the final a number of months have additionally supplied de Ridder with some uplifting moments whereas coaching at his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 health club,” he says. “I’ve my physio observe there. The health club itself is nice. During the last couple of years, all the great guys from our space, like all the highest Belgian guys have flocked to our health club. All of the Dutch prime guys have come to our health club, so I’ve a variety of our bodies to work with. I’ve every part at my disposal, and I’ve put it to good use over the past 12 months.”
For Renier de Ridder, his Fight Brothers health club 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 children. I don’t do it each week, however on occasion 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 style by Malykhin in late 2022. He’d racked up 16 wins in professional MMA earlier than dropping his mild heavyweight belt.
De Ridder’s Fights His Weaknesses to Turn into The Finest Doable Fighter
“I’ve had so much to study, in fact, from that combat,” says de Ridder. “It didn’t go my method, it didn’t go my method in a serious method, however all of the small little issues that went improper, like probably the most fundamental little issues like me; I used to be too mild. He had a variety of weight on me, which is one thing I corrected. (Then,) from a variety of technical stuff; mentally I wasn’t in the correct mind set at the moment. So, I’ve made a listing of every part that went improper. I wrote it down and I’ve been grinding at it ever since.”
So, how did de Ridder improve his weight? “Lifted a sh** ton of weights!” he laughs. “And, eat some extra meals, so I gained a few kilos of mass. I obtained slightly heavier, slightly stronger, which is essential 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 with a purpose 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’s 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 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.
