Dutch blended martial artist, Reinier de Ridder has gained two silver medals within the European Championships throughout his profession and likewise held two titles on the similar 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 going through essentially the most troublesome 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 crucial match forward of ONE 166.
“I’m a middleweight, and after I fought at mild 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 high of the load restrict for mild heavyweight. So, middleweight is my weight class, my pure weight class, and (the load) 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 Fitness center
In fact, middleweight is the division that de Ridder hopes to take care of possession of when he faces his previous 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 power and conditioning, I do on the fitness center,” he says. “I’ve my physio observe there. The fitness center 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 fitness center. All of the Dutch high guys have come to our fitness center, so I’ve a variety of our bodies to work with. I’ve all the pieces at my disposal, and I’ve put it to good use over the past 12 months.”
For Reinier de Ridder, his Fight Brothers fitness center additionally supplies 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 so often I’ll step in and take over the lessons, which is admittedly enjoyable. You see them actually develop.” de Ridder himself has undergone his personal private progress 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 mild heavyweight belt.
De Ridder’s Fights His Weaknesses to Turn into The Greatest Attainable Fighter
“I’ve had lots to be taught, in fact, from that battle,” says de Ridder. “It didn’t go my manner, it didn’t go my manner in a significant manner, however all of the small little issues that went unsuitable, like essentially the most primary 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 best way of thinking at the moment. So, I’ve made a listing of all the pieces that went unsuitable. 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 just a little heavier, just a little 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-after-day as a way 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 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 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 all over the world.
