Reinier de Ridder may have lost his latest ONE Championship outing, but he’s focusing on the positives and is already looking forward to the next one.

This past weekend, “The Dutch Knight” fell to Anatoly Malykhin a second time in the main event of ONE 166: Qatar, resulting in him losing the ONE Middleweight MMA World Title.

Reinier De Ridder’s improved performance against Anatoly Malykhin

Prior to their match, Malykhin, who became a three-division king with the win, criticized De Ridder for only being proficient in jiu-jitsu. The Dutch star brushed off that claim and said that he had some surprises in store for his challenger.

True to his word, he shocked many inside the Lusail Sports Arena by dropping “Sladkiy” with a punch-kick combination and using his constant movement and counter-striking to try and neutralize the Russian’s best weapons.

De Ridder ultimately succumbed to fatigue in the third round, leading to Malykhin being handed a TKO victory, but he took to social media afterward to post some pictures of the fight and ensure fans he’s not going away anytime soon.

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“Here are some more good shots. I was able to showcase what I’ve been working on. Whoever is next will have his hands full. Thank you all for the support,” De Ridder wrote in the caption.

In a different post, the former two-division king also thanked Malykhin for “forcing” him to “evolve” as a fighter, and he shared pics of them together in the middle of the ONE Championship Circle.

De Ridder remained unbeaten through his first 16 professional MMA bouts, and he used his superior grappling to take control of the middleweight and light heavyweight brackets in the world’s largest martial arts organization.

Also Read: ONE 166: Anatoly Malykhin Makes History by Becoming the First 3 Division World Champion in Major MMA Promotions

What could be next for “The Dutch Knight” after his loss against Malykhin

By showcasing an improved striking arsenal in his second tussle with Malykhin, he looks to have unlocked yet another layer, which may show signs that he has many more battles left in his career.

While there may not be a clear contender for the division’s top prize and its holder, Anatoly Malykhin, De Ridder could be the perfect gatekeeper in the middleweight ranks, as he bides his time before making another run at the gold.

What do you think should be next for the former ONE middleweight champion and how long should it be until he gets another shot at ONE gold? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Also Read: Reinier de Ridder Explains How His Gym Helps Feed His Passion for Martial Arts – “We’ve Always Shared Blood, Sweat and Tears”