Dutch blended martial artist, Reinier de Ridder has received two silver medals within the European Championships throughout his profession and likewise held two titles on the identical 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 tough section of his profession. After dropping 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 gentle 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 prime of the burden restrict for gentle heavyweight. So, middleweight is my weight class, my pure weight class, and (the burden) is straightforward to make for me. I’m not the heaviest man within the middleweights so this can be a great place for me.”
Reinier De Ridder Is Throwing Our bodies Round Within the Gymnasium
After all, middleweight is the division that de Ridder hopes to keep up possession of when he faces his outdated nemesis, Malykhin, on March 1, however the final a number of months have additionally offered de Ridder with some uplifting moments whereas coaching at his Fight Brothers Gymnasium within the Netherlands. “My energy and conditioning, I do on the health club,” he says. “I’ve my physio observe there. The health club itself is sweet. Over the past couple of years, all the great guys from our space, like all the highest Belgian guys have flocked to our health club. All of the Dutch prime guys have come to our health club, so I’ve a variety of our bodies to work with. I’ve every part at my disposal, and I’ve put it to good use during the last 12 months.”
For Reinier de Ridder, his Fight Brothers health club additionally supplies a possibility to share his huge MMA information and expertise with newer athletes. “it’s very cool,” says the middleweight champ. “I actually take pleasure in educating the children. I don’t do it each week, however infrequently I’ll step in and take over the lessons, which is basically 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 dropping his gentle heavyweight belt.
De Ridder’s Fights His Weaknesses to Develop into The Greatest Potential Fighter
“I’ve had lots to study, in fact, from that struggle,” says de Ridder. “It didn’t go my manner, it didn’t go my manner in a serious manner, however all of the small little issues that went mistaken, like essentially the most primary little issues like me; I used to be too gentle. 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 fitting way of thinking at the moment. So, I’ve made an inventory of every part that went mistaken. 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 received a bit of heavier, a bit of stronger, which is vital for this match-up.” The fighter shares that he has been consuming six eggs for lunch and devouring a steak for dinner daily so as to bulk up forward a very powerful 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 Enviornment on Friday, March 1. de Ridder tells M&F that he loves ONE Championship’s concentrate on sportsmanship, and says he appreciates the truth that there may be much less “trash speaking” earlier than fights. The must-see blockbuster occasion will likely be stacked with three World Title clashes in complete, 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.
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