For Reinier
de Ridder, it is top five or bust in his next matchup.
Dutch grappler De Ridder (20-2) co-headlined
UFC on ESPN 67 opposite Nickal (7-1) at the Wells Fargo Arena
in Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday. While de Ridder closed in as a
hefty betting underdog ahead of the pairing, he surprised everyone
by choosing to wrestle the former three-time NCAA Division I champ
right from the start. De Ridder spoiled Nickal’s unbeaten record by
folding him with knees to the body in the second round.
“The Dutch Knight” then called out Sean
Strickland, a decision he admitted he might already regret due
to the former champ’s well-known trash talk. But De Ridder believes
Strickland is an interesting matchup for him stylistically, and
can’t want to get the bout booked. De Ridder said at the UFC Des Moines
post-fight presser:
“I think I might be regretting it a little bit,” De Ridder remarked
later that night after calling out Strickland in the Octagon. “But
as I said in the cage, [Bo] is the best American wrestler, let’s do
the best American striker. I like Sean, he’s a funny dude, he’s a
real character… And I think it’s an interesting matchup style wise.
He’s got a very good jab, I don’t think my jab is too bad. I would
like that fight… next week, Montreal baby, let’s go.”
A former two-division ONE Championship title holder, de Ridder has
finished all three of his UFC opponents since joining the promotion
last November. Meanwhile, Strickland is coming off a failed
middleweight bid to regain his title in a rematch against Dricus Du
Plessis.