Reinier de Ridder’s days in the UFC middleweight division are now over.
“RDR” returned to action at UFC 326 last weekend against Caio Borralho, where he was largely overwhelmed by the Brazilian’s crisp striking and well-timed grappling responses. Although de Ridder managed to find brief moments of success, he struggled to generate consistent offense and absorbed the greater share of damage, ultimately suffering a unanimous decision defeat.
This setback marked the second consecutive loss for de Ridder, who entered the bout coming off a defeat to Brendan Allen at UFC Vancouver in October, where he was forced to retire on the stool after four grueling rounds.
“RDR” made his promotional debut in November 2024 and quickly made an impact on the middleweight division, putting the roster on notice within a year by stringing together a four-fight winning streak that included notable victories over Kevin Holland, Bo Nickal, and former champion Robert Whittaker.
Now it appears that Reinier de Ridder is no longer willing to put his body through the grind of cutting down to the 185-pound limit.
Reinier de Ridder Treats Teammates With Donuts While Declaring Move To Light Heavyweight
On Wednesday morning, Reinier de Ridder shared a video on Instagram showing him handing out donuts to his teammates at Kill Cliff FC, accompanied by the caption, “Drowning my sorrow in donuts and BIG NEWS.”
“RDR” jokingly told his training partners that the treats were meant to keep them “heavy and strong,” before revealing that he plans to move up to the UFC’s light heavyweight division. Despite the defeat to Caio Borralho at UFC 326, de Ridder added that he was still satisfied with his overall performance.
However, a move to the UFC’s 205-pound division won’t be unfamiliar territory for Reinier de Ridder. The 35-year-old Dutchman previously competed at both light heavyweight and heavyweight during his time with ONE Championship, where he also captured the promotion’s middleweight and light heavyweight titles.
“RDR” currently holds a professional record of 21–4, including a 4–2 run in the UFC. Of his 21 victories, de Ridder has secured 18 by way of finish, with five coming by knockout and 13 by submission.