Former ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder has not ruled out a potential rematch with Robert Whittaker at light heavyweight. However, de Ridder indicated he would prefer to face a different opponent for his UFC debut. He confirmed that his next fight is scheduled for summer 2026. De Ridder previously defeated Whittaker in a striking-heavy contest that surprised many observers. The Dutchman is transitioning to the UFC after dominating the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions in ONE. His comments suggest he wants to establish himself in a new weight class before revisiting past opponents.
Reinier de Ridder has left the door open to a rematch with Robert Whittaker at light heavyweight but made clear he would rather make his UFC debut against a different opponent, with that first fight pencilled in for the summer of 2026.
De Ridder arrives in the UFC off the back of a dominant run in ONE Championship, where he held titles across both the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. The 35-year-old Dutchman, who trains out of Combat Brothers, carries a 21-4 record into his new promotional home. Standing six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach, the southpaw is a well-rounded threat, averaging 2.68 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing 53 percent of his significant strikes. He is currently ranked seventh in the UFC middleweight division despite not yet having competed inside the Octagon.
Whittaker, meanwhile, sits just one spot above him at number six in the same division. The 35-year-old Australian holds a 27-9 record and is one of the more prolific strikers in the weight class, averaging 4.39 significant strikes per minute. At six feet tall with a 73-inch reach, he gives up a notable size and range advantage to de Ridder. Their previous encounter, a striking-heavy contest that caught many observers off guard given de Ridder's grappling pedigree, ended in de Ridder's favour.
Why it matters
- De Ridder's UFC debut will serve as a critical first data point for how his ONE Championship credentials translate to the world's top promotion.
- A win over a ranked opponent could push him directly into title contention at middleweight or light heavyweight.
- The size and reach disparity between de Ridder and Whittaker makes a potential rematch a stylistically compelling matchup worth revisiting down the line.
- Both men sitting inside the top seven at middleweight means any fight between them carries genuine rankings weight.
