A dominant start for Reinier de Ridder in the UFC

Reinier de Ridder delivered a flawless performance at UFC 311, submitting Kevin Holland in the very first round. The Dutch grappling ace continues to shine after leaving ONE Championship, where he held two world titles, to join the UFC.

In his debut fight, De Ridder defeated Gerald Meerschaert via submission, setting the stage for his rise in the middleweight division. Against Holland, a fan favorite, De Ridder demonstrated his signature dominance on the mat.

“Ever since the fight with Gerald, I knew I would destroy this guy (Holland). I would run over him,” De Ridder stated during the post-fight press conference.

Kevin Holland overwhelmed by De Ridder’s grappling

De Ridder wasted no time, securing a takedown within seconds of the fight. Holland, despite his best efforts, was unable to escape the relentless control of the former ONE champion. With 1:30 remaining in the first round, De Ridder locked in a rear-naked choke, forcing Holland to tap out.

Following his second UFC victory, De Ridder expressed satisfaction with his performance but also made it clear he is ready for tougher challenges.

“Someone in the top five would be great. Khamzat would be cool from a grappling perspective,” he stated.

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De Ridder calls out Khamzat Chimaev

Known for his own elite grappling, De Ridder is eager to test his skills against Khamzat Chimaev, the Swedish-Chechen star who has been a dominant force in the UFC.

“Please, I hope they give me that fight. That would be fantastic. I can be ready as soon as they are,” De Ridder said.

However, UFC President Dana White recently revealed that Chimaev is likely to face the winner of the UFC 312 title fight between Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland. This makes a clash with De Ridder unlikely in the near future.

Robert Whittaker as a more realistic option

While Chimaev might not be immediately available, De Ridder also mentioned former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker as a potential opponent. Both fighters currently lack scheduled bouts, making this matchup a realistic option. Whittaker’s striking and wrestling defense could pose an interesting challenge for De Ridder’s grappling-heavy style.

With two dominant wins in the UFC, De Ridder is quickly proving himself as a force to be reckoned with in the middleweight division. Fans will be watching closely to see who the Dutch grappler faces next.

Source: MMAnytt.se