Reinier de Ridder is officially making his UFC light heavyweight debut this Saturday against Roman Dolidze at UFC Fight Night Sacramento, a pivotal move driven by two brutal losses that forced him to rethink his entire approach to fighting. This isn’t just a weight class change, it’s a complete reset for a fighter who was on the cusp of middleweight glory.
The Brutal Truth About His Middleweight Fall
It felt like De Ridder was on a rocket ship through the UFC middleweight ranks for a minute there. He racked up four wins in just seven months, even taking out former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker and highly-touted prospect Bo Nickal. Another victory in less than a year would’ve put him right in line for a title shot. But then came the Brendan Allen fight, where De Ridder “completely imploded,” exhausting himself so badly his corner had to throw in the towel. It was rough to watch. “I pushed my body too far,” De Ridder told CBS Sports, admitting “Too many weight cuts and training camps in too short a time period.” After taking nearly six months off, he still couldn’t shake it, losing to Caio Borralho at UFC 326. That’s back-to-back losses after being *that* close to the top.
Refueled and Ready: Why 205 Pounds Is De Ridder’s Next Kingdom
At 35 years old, De Ridder isn’t looking to start over at 185 pounds while still trying to squeeze his 6-foot-4 frame down. He tried the break, saying he “still had some doubt in my mind,” even admitting he was “scared of getting tired as I did in the Brendan fight.” Now, he’s “refueled” for a new challenge at light heavyweight, and he’s not alone in this decision, with his opponent Dolidze also making the leap. De Ridder is happy with this specific matchup, telling CBS Sports, “I’m very happy with this matchup because it gives me more time to put on mass.” He plans to “put on more kilos after the fight.” Other former middleweights, like Paulo Costa, who’s nearing the top five after knocking out Azamat Murzakanov, and Robert Whittaker, who stopped Nikita Krylov to enter the ranks, have already found success at 205. De Ridder, who previously held ONE Championship titles in two divisions, fighting men of this size under a different weight structure, might just have the highest ceiling of them all.
This Saturday’s fight against Roman Dolidze isn’t just a debut, it’s De Ridder’s chance to prove his championship pedigree translates, that his body is finally in sync with his ambition. He’s pushing hard now, training twice a day for eight weeks, saying, “I’m going to show that on Saturday.” You better believe the entire light heavyweight division will be watching to see what this refueled, two-division champ brings to the table.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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