Reinier de Ridder Announces Light Heavyweight Shift Following Consecutive UFC Losses

Reinier de Ridder has officially concluded his tenure in the UFC's middleweight division. The fighter, known as "RDR," recently competed at UFC 326, where he faced Caio Borralho. In that bout, de Ridder found himself largely outmatched by Borralho's precise striking and effective grappling counters. Despite sporadic moments of promise, de Ridder couldn't establish sustained offense and absorbed significant damage, leading to a unanimous decision loss.

This defeat marks de Ridder's second in a row, following a previous loss to Brendan Allen at UFC Vancouver last October, a fight he couldn't continue after four demanding rounds.

Since his UFC debut in November 2024, "RDR" rapidly established himself in the middleweight ranks. He achieved a remarkable four-fight winning streak within his first year, securing significant victories against contenders like Kevin Holland, Bo Nickal, and even former champion Robert Whittaker.

It now seems de Ridder is opting to forgo the demanding process of cutting weight to the 185-pound middleweight limit.

Reinier de Ridder Announces Light Heavyweight Move with Donuts for Teammates

On Wednesday, Reinier de Ridder posted an Instagram video from Kill Cliff FC, where he was seen distributing donuts to his teammates. The accompanying caption read, "Drowning my sorrow in donuts and BIG NEWS." Playfully, "RDR" suggested the treats would keep his partners "heavy and strong" before officially announcing his intention to move to the UFC's light heavyweight division. Interestingly, despite his loss to Caio Borralho at UFC 326, de Ridder expressed contentment with his performance.

This transition to the UFC's 205-pound division is not new for the 35-year-old Dutch fighter. During his tenure with ONE Championship, de Ridder previously competed at both light heavyweight and heavyweight, even simultaneously holding both the middleweight and light heavyweight titles within that promotion.

"RDR" maintains a professional mixed martial arts record of 21 wins and 4 losses, with a 4-2 record specifically in the UFC. Out of his 21 victories, an impressive 18 were finishes, comprising five knockouts and thirteen submissions.