Aug. 19, 2026, 3:30 p.m. ET
Reinier de Ridder is happy to return to peak kind as he strikes again up to mild heavyweight.
De Ridder (21-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) takes on Roman Dolidze (15-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 285 (Paramount+) predominant card at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif.
As for the teachings realized in his two-fight shedding skid, de Ridder actually believes it was the main weight cuts that introduced him down.
“No, it’s mostly the weight cut,” de Ridder informed MMA Junkie. “I know what I can do. In the last fight, I wasn’t able to push as hard as I would have liked to. I wasn’t able to grapple as much, and I’m going to just get back to all the stuff I’m good at on Saturday night.”
Like de Ridder, Dolidze may even be making the transfer up to mild heavyweight.
“It’s a perfect matchup,” de Ridder stated. “Gives me some time after this to put on some more mass. So, I’m very happy with the matchup. He’s a vet. He’s been around for a very long time. He’s been in the top 10 for a long time at middleweight, and yeah, it’s a cool matchup. … I don’t know. I’m just going to kill this motherf*cker.”
De Ridder was on the cusp of title competition earlier than losses to Brendan Allen and Caio Borralho set him again. He plans on choosing up proper the place he left off at mild heavyweight.
“In this game, we always have to prove ourselves,” de Ridder stated. “Every next fight is the biggest one. But I do think if I can put him away, at least if I can put him away, especially if I can put him away spectacularly, I’ll be fighting a top-10 guy next and think it’s in my hands. If I can do as I know I can, then I’ll be up there soon.”
Activity and steady weight cuts hampered de Ridder’s performances, however now that he is having to reduce 20 kilos much less, the lively schedule can proceed.
“Yeah, at this rate, because I’m going to be able to recover much better,” de Ridder stated. “And I think it’s a very valuable thing in the UFC to be active and to show that you’re ready to go, take the opportunities that arise. And I’m planning to be back in soon.”