Dutch blended 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 essentially the most troublesome part of his profession. After shedding his ONE Gentle 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 important 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 perhaps placed on round 2 kilos of fats and that’s about it,” the 6’3” de Ridder says about straddling two weight courses. “I’ve by no means actually been on the high of the load restrict for gentle heavyweight. So, middleweight is my weight class, my pure weight class, and (the load) is simple to make for me. I’m not the heaviest man within the middleweights so this can be a great place for me.”
Reinier De Ridder Is Throwing Our bodies Round Within the Fitness center
After all, middleweight is the division that de Ridder hopes to keep up possession of when he faces his outdated nemesis, Malykhin, on March 1, however the final a number of months have additionally supplied de Ridder with some uplifting moments whereas coaching at his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 Fitness center within the Netherlands. “My energy and conditioning, I do on the health club,” he says. “I’ve my physio apply 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 high guys have come to our health club, so I’ve loads of our bodies to work with. I’ve every part at my disposal, and I’ve put it to good use during the last 12 months.”
For Reinier de Ridder, his Fight Brothers health club additionally supplies a chance to share his huge MMA information and expertise with newer athletes. “it’s very cool,” says the middleweight champ. “I actually take pleasure in instructing the children. I don’t do it each week, however on occasion I’ll step in and take over the courses, which is admittedly enjoyable. You see them actually develop.” de Ridder himself has undergone his personal private progress after being knocked out in devastating style 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 Finest Attainable Fighter
“I’ve had loads to be taught, after all, from that battle,” says de Ridder. “It didn’t go my manner, it didn’t go my manner in a serious manner, however all of the small little issues that went fallacious, like essentially 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 proper mind set at the moment. So, I’ve made an inventory of every part 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 acquired somewhat heavier, somewhat 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 day by day with the intention to bulk up forward crucial bout of his illustrious profession. For the primary time ever, ONE Championship is heading to Qatar with ONE 166, broadcasts stay from Lusail Sports activities Enviornment 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 will probably 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, stay on Prime Video within the U.S./Canada and on Watch.ONEFC.com world wide.
