In middleweight fights, UFC Sacramento’s Reinier de Ridder was spending the last six weeks of his camp focused entirely on his weight.
“I eat two meals a day, as tiny as possible, just trying to get down,” explained de Ridder (21-4) during Wednesday’s UFC Sacramento media day, adding that things are much different now that he’s returning to light heavyweight. “This time, I can just have breakfast. I’m still eating good of course, but bigger portions. And it makes recovery so much better as well. I’ve been able to go hard, train hard twice a day. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to train this hard.”
A former ONE Championship double champion at both middleweight and light heavyweight, de Ridder noted that it was repeated weight cuts that impacted him, more than the weight being shed itself. Leading to poor performances, and serious side effects.
“The amount of weight cuts is what messed me up. Because you see this with all the guys who did big weight cuts like I did to get to 185- you can do it twice a year, maybe three times a year, more than that it’s just not possible. Everything goes to sh*t, your body goes to sh*t, your hormonal levels go to sh*t. Everything goes in the trash.”
RDR added that after his fight with Brendan Allen, he had to stop training completely. “I was out of breath when I walked up the stairs.” And he had doubts, initially, if he’d ever make it back. “Those first six weeks just were terrible. Just doubt everywhere. Can I get my body back to normal at all.”
Facing Roman Dolidze at UFC Sacramento this Saturday, the Dutch star noted that the right kind of win could see him fast-tracked to the top of the 205lb division.
“If I do well and I put him away, I think it’ll give me a chance to fight in the top 10 next. It’s a new start, it’s basically like when I came into the UFC, I was fighting a vet in my first fight as well, and I feel the same. If I can put another run like this together, I’ll be up on the top quickly, hopefully.”
Watch the full UFC Sacramento media day appearance by Reinier de Ridder above.
