Reinier de Ridder has not ruled out a potential rematch with Robert Whittaker at light heavyweight, but indicated he would prefer a different opponent for his UFC debut. De Ridder confirmed his next fight is scheduled for summer but did not specify an exact date or opponent. The post suggests de Ridder wants to establish himself in the UFC before potentially pursuing the rematch with Whittaker. He previously faced Whittaker in ONE Championship. The fighter appears focused on a strategic approach to his UFC entry.
Reinier de Ridder has confirmed he is open to a rematch with Robert Whittaker at light heavyweight, but the Dutch contender made clear he would prefer to face a different opponent when he makes his UFC debut this summer.
De Ridder, 35, enters the UFC carrying a 21-4-0 record and currently sits ranked seventh in the middleweight division. Standing six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach, the Netherlands native is a southpaw who trains out of Combat Brothers. His game is built around volume grappling — he averages 2.68 takedowns per 15 minutes — while also posting a striking accuracy of 53 percent, one of the sharper marks in his weight class.
Whittaker, meanwhile, is no stranger to de Ridder, having crossed paths with him previously in ONE Championship. "The Reaper" holds a 27-9-0 record and sits sixth in the UFC middleweight rankings. The 35-year-old Australian is a high-output striker, landing 4.39 significant strikes per minute out of an orthodox stance, and his experience at the top of the division spans well over a decade.
De Ridder indicated his next fight is penciled in for summer, though no date or opponent has been announced. His comments suggest a deliberate, long-game approach to his UFC entry — looking to establish credibility on the roster before circling back to a potential Whittaker rematch at 205 pounds.
Why it matters
- De Ridder's arrival adds a rangy, high-level grappler to a middleweight division already stacked with contenders
- A future light heavyweight matchup with Whittaker would carry cross-promotional history and divisional ranking implications at 205
- His size — six-foot-four, 198 cm reach — and takedown volume could present a distinct stylistic challenge for any summer opponent
