UFC on ABC 9: Reinier de Ridder previews Robert Whittaker fight, title stakes
Reinier de Ridder talks to MMA Junkie Radio ahead of his UFC on ABC 9 main event with Robert Whittaker.
Reinier de Ridder has a vested interest in the UFC 319 main event.
De Ridder (20-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) will look to emerge into title contention when he takes on former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (26-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC) in the UFC on ABC 9 main event July 26 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Less than a month later, Dricus Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) defends his middleweight title against undefeated Khamzat Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in the Aug. 16 main event from United Center in Chicago. De Ridder sees pros and cons to either fighter winning when it comes to his title run.
“I think if it’s going to be Khamzat, then it might slow everything a bit down because he doesn’t really fight that often,” De Ridder told MMA Junkie Radio. “So, that being said, it would be nice if it’s Dricus, but I don’t really mind too much.
“Khamzat would be nice because he’s more of a guy with hype behind him than Dricus does, even with Dricus being the champ. But we’ll see. We’ll see what happens, and I imagine I’ll be fighting both of them before next year’s over anyway.”
De Ridder has surprised in his UFC run so far, scoring finishes of Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and most recently formerly unbeaten Bo Nickal at UFC on ESPN 67 in the span of six months. Nickal to Whittaker is a big step up in competition for the former ONE dual champion, but De Ridder doesn’t see Whittaker underestimating him.
“I don’t know, he’s not much of a trash talker anyway,” De Ridder said of Whittaker. “I doubt we’ll hear if he still doubts me, but we’re going to find out. As you guys saw, the fights have been going very well, and I feel like I’ve really improved, as well, over the last year. Just because of the sheer amount I’ve been training with the guys of the highest level. So I don’t think he’s really doubting me, but we’ll see.”
