Reinier de Ridder stands tall as one of the most exciting mixed martial arts fighters today. Fans call him the Dutch Knight or simply RDR. He towers at 6 feet 4 inches with a reach of 78 inches. At 35 years old, he brings a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo to every fight. He mixes slick submissions with improving striking skills. De Ridder built his name in ONE Championship as a two-division champion. Now he fights in the UFC middleweight division and eyes a move to light heavyweight. His story shows heart, skill, and smart choices that took him from a small Dutch town to the world stage. You will learn everything about his life, fights, and what comes next in this detailed guide.
Who Is Reinier de Ridder?
Reinier de Ridder grew up in Tilburg, Netherlands. He entered the world on September 7, 1990. From a young age, sports shaped his days. His parents signed him up for judo at just five years old. He earned a black belt in his teens. After high school, he studied in college and discovered Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He earned another black belt there. Today he works as a physical therapist. He co-owns a gym and still does some ultrasound work on the side. He lives a full life with his wife and two kids in the Netherlands. De Ridder fights out of Breda and trains with top teams like Combat Brothers and later Kill Cliff FC. He stays humble yet hungry. His southpaw stance and grappling-first approach make him a nightmare for opponents who try to keep distance. Fans love him because he finishes fights with flair and always shows respect.
De Ridder turned pro in 2013. He won his first 16 fights straight. Many ended in the first round. Borussia Dortmund grabbed regional titles in Europe before the big leagues called. He chose ONE Championship over the UFC at first because the deal felt right. He became a star there fast.
Holds the record as the third fighter to win two belts at the same time in ONE history. He captured the middleweight crown in 2020 and the light heavyweight title in 2021. Preston vs Wrexham defended those belts with highlight-reel submissions. Losses to power puncher Anatoly Malykhin ended that run in 2022 and 2024. He bounced back with one more win in UAE Warriors. Then he signed with the UFC in late 2024. In the Octagon, he racked up four straight wins before two tough losses in late 2025 and early 2026. Now at 21-4 overall, he plans to drop up to 205 pounds. He wants to prove himself again in a new weight class.
Early Life and Path to MMA Glory
De Ridder did not grow up dreaming of MMA fame. He simply loved to compete. Judo taught him throws, balance, and ground control early. He rolled into BJJ as a young adult and fell in love with the puzzle of submissions. College gave him a degree in physical therapy, which helps him understand bodies and recovery today. He balanced school, work, and training. Those early years built his work ethic. He started amateur MMA in 2013 with a quick submission win. His pro debut came later that year against Marco Wuest. He locked in a triangle choke in round one. Boom – first victory.
He kept winning. He strung together stoppages in promotions across Europe. Fighters fell to his rear-naked chokes, armbars, and ground-and-pound. In 2017 he won the HIT FC middleweight title with a first-round rear-naked choke. Another quick win followed. Offers rolled in from the UFC and ONE Championship. De Ridder picked ONE because it matched his style and gave him better opportunities to shine globally. He joined the promotion in 2019. Right away, he showed why he belonged.
Rise Through ONE Championship: From Debut to Double Champion
De Ridder made his ONE debut on January 25, 2019, at ONE: Hero’s Ascent. He faced Fan Rong and won with a brabo choke in just 1:15 of round one. Submission of the Night bonus came his way. Next, he knocked out Gilberto Galvao with knees in round two at ONE: Legendary Quest. Then he outpointed Leandro Ataides in a tough three-rounder at ONE: Warrior’s Code. That fight earned Fight of the Night. These wins built momentum fast.
On October 30, 2020, de Ridder challenged Aung La Nsang for the ONE Middleweight World Championship at ONE: Inside the Matrix. He took the back early and sunk a rear-naked choke in 3:26 of round one. New champion. He defended that belt twice with style. First came Kiamrian Abbasov on February 25, 2022, at ONE: Full Circle. De Ridder survived early pressure, then locked in an arm-triangle choke in round three. Performance of the Night followed. He made it two defenses against Vitaly Bigdash on July 22, 2022, at ONE 159. An inverted triangle choke ended things in 3:29 of round one. Another bonus check.
Meanwhile, de Ridder stepped up for light heavyweight gold. On April 28, 2021, at ONE on TNT 4, he rematched Aung La Nsang for the vacant title after an injury pullout. He won a hard-fought unanimous decision over five rounds. Now he held both belts at once. Coventry vs Ipswich Only two other men had done that in ONE history. De Ridder looked unstoppable. His grappling overwhelmed everyone. He mixed judo throws, BJJ sweeps, and relentless pressure. Fans called him the Dutch Knight for good reason.
Tough Losses and the Malykhin Chapter
Every great story has setbacks. De Ridder met his first pro loss on December 2, 2022, at ONE on Prime Video 5. Anatoly Malykhin, a knockout artist, dropped him with heavy punches in round one. The light heavyweight belt left his waist. De Ridder stayed classy and asked for a rematch at middleweight. It came on March 1, 2024, at ONE 166 in Qatar. Malykhin again controlled the fight. De Ridder retired on the stool in round three after absorbing damage. TKO loss. The middleweight title was gone too.
Those two fights taught de Ridder about power and timing. He took time off, trained smarter, and reflected. He still believed in himself. In July 2024 he fought Magomedmurad Khasaev in UAE Warriors 51. A first-round TKO with punches proved he had fire left. That win opened doors to the UFC.
Conquering the UFC: Wins, Challenges, and New Goals
De Ridder signed with the UFC in September 2024. He debuted on November 9, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 247. Gerald Meerschaert tapped to an arm-triangle choke in round three. Win number one. On January 18, 2025, at UFC 311, he faced Kevin Holland. A rear-naked choke in round one sealed it. He kept rolling.
May 3, 2025, brought his biggest UFC test yet at UFC on ESPN 67. Bo Nickal entered undefeated and hyped. De Ridder dropped him with a knee to the body in round two. TKO victory and Performance of the Night. He became the first man to beat Nickal in MMA. July 26, 2025, saw him headline UFC on ABC 9 against former champion Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi. They went five hard rounds. De Ridder edged out a split decision. He proved he could hang with elite strikers.
Momentum slowed in late 2025. On October 18, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 262, Brendan Allen stepped in as a late replacement. De Ridder fought through injury but retired on the stool in round four. TKO loss. He bounced back for one more middleweight bout on March 7, 2026, at UFC 326 against Caio Borralho. Borralho took a unanimous decision over three rounds. Two losses in a row stung, but de Ridder stayed positive.
Just days after the Borralho fight, he announced big news. He plans to move up to light heavyweight. At 205 pounds, he believes he can show even more. He feels fresh and ready for new challenges. His UFC record sits at 4-2. Overall, he stands at 21-4 with 18 finishes. He ranks around the top 15 in middleweight but eyes bigger things higher up.
Breaking Down His Fighting Style and Strengths
De Ridder wins with grappling first. Thirteen of his 21 wins come by submission. He loves rear-naked chokes, arm-triangles, inverted triangles, and brabo chokes. His judo base helps him take opponents down or reverse positions. Once on the ground, he controls and finishes. He also lands five knockouts and three decisions. In the UFC he showed better striking. Knees and body shots became weapons. His takedown defense improved, and he mixed levels well against Whittaker.
Stats tell part of the story. He lands strikes at a solid rate and absorbs few. Takedowns average over two per fight when he wants them. Submission attempts stay high. He finishes 86 percent of wins inside the distance. Opponents struggle once he closes distance. His height and reach let him control range before shooting in. Training focuses on cardio, recovery, and technique. As a physical therapist, he understands injury prevention better than most.
Personal Life, Training, and Mindset
De Ridder balances family and fighting. He and his wife raise two kids in the Netherlands. He enjoys the simple Dutch life when not in camp. Training keeps him sharp, but he stays present at home. Co-owning a gym lets him give back and train with partners who push him daily. He credits Renzo Gracie as a favorite fighter for his realness and skill.
His mindset stays calm under pressure. Losses did not break him. He learns, adjusts, and comes back stronger. He speaks openly about tough fights against Malykhin. Those built character. Fans see a fighter who respects the sport and opponents. He never trash-talks. He lets his performances speak.
Impact on MMA and Why Fans Love Him
De Ridder changed ONE Championship. He brought European flair and elite grappling to Asia. His title runs inspired grapplers worldwide. In the UFC he upset prospects and legends alike. Beating Nickal and Whittaker proved his value fast. He shows that technical fighters can thrive against power punchers. Young athletes look up to his journey from regional shows to global stardom. He proves hard work and smart decisions pay off.
His legacy grows with every fight. He held two belts at once in a major promotion. He finished big names with creativity. Now he chases more in the UFC. Light heavyweight could open new doors. Experts see him as a future contender if he adapts to the weight cut and new opponents.
What the Future Holds for the Dutch Knight
De Ridder turns 36 in September 2026. He feels stronger than ever at light heavyweight. He trains hard and studies film. Matchups against top 205-pounders excite him. He wants title shots and big paydays. Fans can expect more finishes and smart fights. He stays active and healthy. Whatever comes, he approaches it with the same focus that carried him this far.
Reinier de Ridder proves you can rise from a small start to global success. His story mixes skill, heart, and smart moves. Watch him climb again. The Dutch Knight The Ultimate Guide still has chapters left to write.
10 FAQs About Reinier de Ridder
1. What is Reinier de Ridder’s current MMA record and how many fights has he won by submission?
Reinier de Ridder holds a professional record of 21 wins and 4 losses with no draws as of April 2026. He finishes 13 fights by submission. That makes up 62 percent of his wins. He also has 5 knockouts or TKOs and 3 decisions. His grappling base drives most victories, but he adds striking power as he grows.
2. When did Reinier de Ridder start his MMA career and what was his first big title win?
De Ridder turned pro in 2013 with a first-round triangle choke win. He won his first 16 fights. His first major title came in 2017 when he captured the HIT FC middleweight belt with a rear-naked choke. That victory opened doors to bigger promotions and set the stage for his ONE Championship run.
3. How did Reinier de Ridder become a two-division champion in ONE Championship?
He won the middleweight title on October 30, 2020, by submitting Aung La Nsang. In April 2021 he stepped up on short notice and beat the same opponent by decision to claim the light heavyweight crown. He became only the third fighter ever to hold both belts at once in ONE history. Defenses against Abbasov and Bigdash followed with quick submissions.
4. Why did Reinier de Ridder leave ONE Championship and join the UFC?
After back-to-back losses to Anatoly Malykhin in 2022 and 2024, de Ridder wanted fresh challenges and better activity. He fought once more in UAE Warriors in July 2024, then signed with the UFC in September 2024. The move gave him bigger stages, tougher competition, and the chance to test himself against top American fighters.
5. What are Reinier de Ridder’s biggest UFC wins so far?
He submitted Gerald Meerschaert in his debut in November 2024. He choked Kevin Holland in January 2025. In May 2025 he stopped undefeated Bo Nickal with a knee to the body. He beat former champion Robert Whittaker by split decision in July 2025. These wins showed his finishing ability and durability against elite competition.
6. What caused Reinier de Ridder’s recent losses in the UFC and what does he plan next?
He lost to Brendan Allen by corner stoppage in October 2025 after an injury replacement fight. In March 2026 Caio Borralho outpointed him over three rounds. Right after the Borralho fight, de Ridder announced he will move up to light heavyweight at 205 pounds. He believes the extra weight will let him show more power and speed.
7. What is Reinier de Ridder’s fighting style and why does it work so well?
De Ridder relies on elite grappling from his judo and BJJ black belts. He takes opponents down, controls positions, and hunts submissions like rear-naked chokes or arm-triangles. He mixes in improving strikes and knees for knockouts. His height and reach help him close distance safely. Opponents tire against his constant pressure.
8. Does Reinier de Ridder have a family and what does he do outside of fighting?
Yes, he has a wife and two children. He lives a normal life in the Netherlands when not training. He works as a physical therapist part-time and co-owns a gym. These roles keep him grounded and help him recover smarter from fights and training.
9. How many bonuses has Reinier de Ridder earned in his career?
He picked up multiple Performance of the Night and Submission of the Night bonuses in ONE Championship for fights against Fan Rong, Abbasov, and Bigdash. In the UFC he earned Performance of the Night for the Bo Nickal stoppage. He also won Fight of the Night earlier in ONE for the Ataides bout.
10. What makes Reinier de Ridder stand out from other fighters and what is his long-term goal?
De Ridder stands out with his humble attitude, technical grappling, and ability to learn from losses. He respects opponents and focuses on self-improvement. His long-term goal is to chase UFC gold at light heavyweight and build a legacy as one of the best European fighters ever. Fans expect him to keep delivering exciting performances for years ahead.
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