Des Moines — If American fight fans weren’t familiar with Reinier de Ridder prior to UFC Des Moines, where he faced storied wrestler Bo Nickal in the night’s co-main event, they might just be now.
“The Dutch Knight,” or just RDR, put away the previously unbeaten Nickal in the second round, setting up the finish with knees that had been there for him all night.
Speaking with media outlets following the event, including Cageside Press, de Ridder noted that he “got him [Nickal] with some good shots,” while later expressing surprise with “how well he did on bottom.”
Still, after working Nickal over to the body, de Ridder (20-2), a former ONE Championship double champ, knew Nickal wasn’t responding well. “Every time I hit him to the body, I felt him dropping his hands a little bit, I felt him moving to his right like he was hurt a little bit,” noted de Ridder. Even prior to the knee and punches that put the fight away, “I felt like he was on his way out already.”
Some might be surprised by the fact that Reinier de Ridder was so willing to go to the ground with a three-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion. But again, that may come down to not being familiar with RDR’s work outside the UFC.
“I think this goes for everything in life, and especially in fighting: you should look at what you do good, what you do well. Don’t be distracted by what anybody else brings to the table,” advised de Ridder. “It doesn’t matter. My jiu-jitsu, my judo, my wrestling is so good, I can hang with anybody. It doesn’t matter what they bring.”
As to getting the finish on the feet, “I’m still Dutch,” de Ridder said with a laugh. “I’m still Dutch deep inside.”
Following his victory at UFC Des Moines, de Ridder called out another American middleweight, Sean Strickland. That will no doubt bring a response from Strickland fans, and the former champ himself.
“I think I might be regretting it in a little bit,” admitted de Ridder, who likes the match-up anyway. “As I said in the cage, this was the best American wrestler, let’s see the best American striker. I like Sean, he’s a funny dude, he’s a real character. And he’s top five.”
“I think it’s an interesting match-up style-wise. He has a very good jab, I don’t think my jab is too bad. I would like that fight, I would really like that fight.”
As to when he’d like to face Strickland, de Ridder didn’t hesitate. “Next week. Montreal baby, let’s go!” Unlikely, but it’s pretty clear RDR is loving staying active in the UFC, after ONE Championship sat him for extended periods of time.
Watch Reinier de Ridder’s full UFC Des Moines post-fight press conference above.
