Reinier de Ridder has decided to leave middleweight behind after a gruelling run of six weight cuts in just over a year, which he says damaged his body, hormone levels, and in-camp recovery. The Dutch fighter suffered corner stoppages and listless performances in back-to-back losses to Brendan Allen and Caio Borralho, crediting excessive cutting as a key factor. De Ridder makes his 205-pound debut against Roman Dolidze at UFC Sacramento this Saturday.
Reinier de Ridder is stepping up to light heavyweight, citing the physical toll of an exhausting stretch of weight cuts as the primary reason for leaving the middleweight division behind. The Dutch fighter makes his 205-pound debut against Roman Dolidze at UFC Sacramento this Saturday.
De Ridder has been open about the damage caused by six cuts inside roughly fourteen months, saying the repeated process hurt his body, disrupted his hormone levels, and left him unable to recover properly between camps. He points to that accumulated wear as a significant factor in back-to-back corner stoppages against Brendan Allen and Caio Borralho, performances he described as listless.
Allen, ranked fourth in the middleweight division, carries a 26-7 record and lands 3.59 significant strikes per minute at 53 percent accuracy — one of the sharper offensive outputs at 185 pounds. The 30-year-old American trains out of Kill Cliff FC and adds a consistent wrestling threat, averaging 1.56 takedowns per fifteen minutes.
Borralho, ranked fifth at middleweight and boasting an 18-2 record, is similarly well-rounded. The 33-year-old Brazilian southpaw lands at a 56 percent striking accuracy rate and has climbed steadily toward the division's upper tier.
Dolidze, de Ridder's opponent this weekend, holds a 15-5 record and is listed at middleweight, ranked fifteenth in that division. The 38-year-old Georgian trains out of Xtreme Couture and stands six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach, giving him a rangy, physical presence. He lands 3.19 significant strikes per minute and contributes on the mat with 1.16 takedowns per fifteen minutes.
Why it matters
- De Ridder's move represents a fresh divisional chapter after consecutive losses dented his middleweight standing.
- Dolidze offers a stern physical test for a fighter debuting at a new weight class.
- A strong performance could re-establish de Ridder as a rankings threat, this time at 205 pounds.
Reinier de Ridder vs Roman Dolidze
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