The biggest free agent debut since Kayla Harrison earlier this year arrived on Saturday, as “The Dutch Knight” Reinier de Ridder entered the octagon for the first time at UFC Vegas 100.
Welcoming de Ridder, a former ONE double-champ at middleweight and light heavyweight, was veteran 185’er Gerald Meerschaert.
De Ridder came out firing the jab using his height and length to his advantage. The former two-division ONE world champion however got countered plenty by Meerschaert as he did not get his head out of center line. For the majority of the fight the two went at it on the feet while exchanging takedown attempts.
It wasn’t until the end of the second and into the third round where the grappling exchanges too place. The two high-level grapplers took turns taking top position and going for submissions.
In the third round with 4:26 left in the fight Meerschaert shot in for a takedown that De Ridder was able to turn into a scramble and he took top position. Shortly after De Ridder sunk in the arm triangle choke and forced the tap.
With a successful UFC debut under his belt De Ridder joked, “Madison Square Garden, if you guys need me there (for UFC 309) next week, give me a call in couple hours, because after that I might be a little drunk.”
Official Result: Reinier de Ridder def. Gerald Meerschaert via R3 SUB, 1:44 (Arm Triangle)
