De Ridder targets light heavyweight title path after middleweight exit
The 35-year-old former ONE champion moves up to 205 pounds to escape weight-cutting rigours, citing size and past experience as keys to a rapid ascent.
Reinier de Ridder is set to make his UFC light heavyweight debut against Roman Dolidze at UFC Fight Night Sacramento, marking a strategic shift for the 35-year-old former middleweight. The move to 205 pounds is designed to alleviate the physical toll of weight cutting, a factor De Ridder cites as the primary reason for his recent struggles at the lower division.
De Ridder’s middleweight trajectory was derailed by consecutive losses to Brendan Allen and Caio Borralho, which he attributed to exhaustion from excessive weight cuts and training camps. After a period of recovery, he believes the extended break has corrected the physical issues, allowing him to train more effectively without the immediate pressure of making a difficult weight.
The fighter views his transition as a "fast track" to title contention, leveraging his 6-foot-4 height and championship experience from his time in ONE Championship. De Ridder notes that his previous career involved fighting considerably heavier opponents, giving him a distinct advantage over peers who are adjusting to the new weight class for the first time.
He joins a growing group of former middleweights exploring opportunities at 205 pounds, including Paulo Costa and Robert Whittaker, both of whom have recently secured victories to enter the top ranks of the division. De Ridder believes his size and grappling skills position him as a significant threat in the division, despite the competition from established light heavyweights.
In his upcoming bout, De Ridder aims to use the matchup to gain additional mass, noting that Dolidze is a familiar size for him. He plans to continue adding weight after the fight to fully settle into the new division, viewing the current period as a transitional phase rather than a permanent state.
De Ridder has also teased a future bout with Paulo Costa, observing that Costa performs well against southpaws, a stance De Ridder himself adopts. While acknowledging the generalisation, De Ridder remains confident that his unique combination of length and experience will allow him to compete for a UFC title in the near future.
