For ex-middleweight champ Robert Whittaker, ONE star Reinier de Ridder was on the radar once he arrived in the UFC and got off to a hot start.
The pair will now collide at UFC Abu Dhabi, in this weekend’s five-round main event on broadcast network ABC.
“He was on the radar, and obviously since the fight got announced I’ve been doing my research like anybody else,” Whittaker (26-8) explained during Wednesday’s UFC Abu Dhabi media day. “And anyone that has done the research can see that he’s a well-accomplished fighter. He’s been around the track many times, fought for titles, had titles in other divisions.”
De Ridder held two belts in ONE Championship, and started his career going 16-0. His only losses, which cost him ONE’s middleweight and light heavyweight belts, came to Russian Anatoly Malykhin.
“It’s going to be a hard fight. He’s a veteran like myself, and I look forward to the test that comes Saturday,” Whittaker finished.
Some who perhaps either aren’t aware of him, or who are discounting de Ridder’s accomplishments in ONE, might see RDR moving from a win over Bo Nickal to ex-champ Robert Whittaker as a big jump. Whittaker himself isn’t so sure.
“Not necessarily. Yes, to a degree, because I think I’m pretty good, but no because he’s had big fights, he’s been under the lights, he’s had title fights, five-rounders before. So he’s used to the things surrounding the fight, but he hasn’t fought anyone like me though.”
As for his game plan, a big part of it will be “landing my mitts,” stated Whittaker. “Getting my hands on him. That’s the plan. I’m fast, my striking I think is better than his. I just gotta find the holes and openings to close the night.”
Watch the full UFC Abu Dhabi media day appearance by Reinier de Ridder above.
