Reinier de Ridder solidified his place among the UFC middleweight elite with a hard-fought split decision victory over former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC on ABC 9 on July 26, 2025, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The five-round war showcased de Ridder’s relentless pressure, clinch control, and resilience, surviving a third-round knockdown to secure the win with cage control and bodywork. Improving to 21-2 and 4-0 in the UFC, de Ridder climbed to #5 in the middleweight rankings, positioning himself as a top contender. His post-fight callout for a title shot underscored his ambition to challenge for the belt

Next up for Reinier de Ridder should be the winner of the UFC 319 middleweight title fight between champion Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev, scheduled for August 16, 2025, in Chicago. Du Plessis recently defended his title in a dominant unanimous decision rematch against Sean Strickland at UFC 312 on February 8, 2025, in Sydney, Australia, winning 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46, and breaking Strickland’s nose in the fourth round.

De Ridder’s recent wins over Whittaker, Bo Nickal, Kevin Holland, and Gerald Meerschaert demonstrate his ability to handle top-tier competition, making him a deserving challenger. A matchup against Du Plessis would pit de Ridder’s grappling-heavy style against the champion’s physicality and unorthodox striking, while facing Chimaev would test his durability against another smothering wrestler. This title fight, likely slated for late 2025 or early 2026, could headline a major pay-per-view or serve as a co-main event, offering de Ridder the chance to claim UFC gold and cement his legacy.

Last Five Fights – Reinier de Ridder:

1. Win over Robert Whittaker – Decision (split), UFC on ABC 9 (July 26, 2025)
2. Win over Bo Nickal – TKO (knees), UFC on ESPN 67 (May 3, 2025)
3. Win over Kevin Holland – Submission (rear-naked choke), UFC 311 (January 18, 2025)
4. Win over Gerald Meerschaert – Submission (arm-triangle choke), UFC Fight Night 247 (November 9, 2024)
5. Win over Magomedmurad Khasaev – TKO (punches), UAE Warriors 51 (July 27, 2024)

Last Five Fights – Dricus Du Plessis (as of July 30, 2025):

1. Win over Sean Strickland – Decision (unanimous), UFC 312 (February 8, 2025)
2. Win over Israel Adesanya – Submission (rear-naked choke), UFC 305 (August 17, 2024)
3. Win over Sean Strickland – Decision (split), UFC 297 (January 20, 2024)
4. Win over Robert Whittaker – TKO (punches), UFC 290 (July 8, 2023)
5. Win over Derek Brunson – TKO (corner stoppage), UFC 285 (March 4, 2023)

Last Five Fights – Khamzat Chimaev (as of July 30, 2025):

1. Win over Robert Whittaker – Submission (face crank), UFC 308 (October 26, 2024)
2. Win over Kamaru Usman – Decision (majority), UFC 294 (October 21, 2023)
3. Win over Kevin Holland – Submission (D’Arce choke), UFC 279 (September 10, 2022)
4. Win over Gilbert Burns – Decision (unanimous), UFC 273 (April 9, 2022)
5. Win over Li Jingliang – Technical Submission (rear-naked choke), UFC 267 (October 30, 2021)]