“I don’t think there’s really a guy in the world at 86 kilos that can beat me in wrestling.” Before his fight with Khamzat Chimaev, the National Champion out of Penn State, Bo Nickal, declared that his undefeated MMA record of 7-0 was there to stay. But then rose a name out of the Nittany Lions’ rival, the Iowa Hawkeyes– Reinier De Ridder. Call it bravery or self-confidence, but ‘The Dutch Knight’ dared Nickal to a fight at UFC Des Moines. And his words were quite rash too, when he challenged himself, “(Let’s) see if I can get his neck” As it turned out on May 3 in Iowa, the No. 13 ranked did “steal the spotlight in this one.”

In the back-and-forth wrestle, Nickal started off strong and even latched on to a guillotine at one point. But the Hawkeye stayed calm, reversed the position, and survived. In round two, he saw his shot. The Nittany Lion backed into the cage after seemingly being unable to handle the Dutch fighter’s pressure, and De Ridder sent a knee flying. It nearly folded Nickal in half as it landed right on his torso, and with Bo on the ground, the fight was over. With the win, not only did The Dutch Knight send a message that even the strongest wrestlers can be broken but also got one for the team in their age-old rivalry with Penn State. And Iowa? They saw something more, a torchbearer striking one back for the black and gold. And what’s more in it for the Hawkeye? Well, he had a special request.

In his post-match interview back in May, he had one wish. When the interviewer asked him, “Do you think you’ll be getting a care package in the mail from Iowa wrestling?” The former ONE Championship double champ excitedly chirped, “Yeah, I expect it. I expect it. So…umm… I’ll… I’ll leave my address afterwards.” That stammering? Well, the smile of the winner almost gave away the shyness he had with the ask. But the Hawkeyes wrestling did not take it lightly, and the wish, it has been delivered.

According to a tweet by FULL SEND MMA, “Iowa Wrestling actually sent Reinier De Ridder a care package after his win over Bo Nickal.” The accompanying image showed a Hawkeye cap, a sweatshirt, and some more gear soaked in decades of rivalry and pride. After all, the fight between the two? It was straight-up fireworks for the rivalry born on the wrestling mat.

If you know college wrestling, you know this feud isn’t just stats and standings. Since 1982, Iowa and Penn State have locked horns in the fiercest wrestling rivalry in the NCAA. The Hawkeyes, with their blue-collar grit and iconic lineage, against the Nittany Lions, with their modern dominance and slick technique. While the Hawkeyes hold the second-most national championships with 24 to their name, Penn State’s rise has been remarkable, with the Nittany Lions winning 12 out of 14 team titles during the 2010s and 2020s. And this win, brings the Hawkeye name back on top.

While Nickal and Penn State supporters ended the night with pain, Iowa Wrestling was celebrating like it was a wrestling meet win at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena! But it seems like it is not yet over for Reinier De Ridder after getting one back for the team.

‘The Dutch Knight’ wants to make a statement against Robert Whittaker

Up next for De Ridder? A far bigger war. A clash against former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. The two are set to headline UFC on ABC 9 in Abu Dhabi, and if De Ridder pulls off another finish, his name might land right in the title conversation. Sounds like a big leap? Maybe. But Reinier De Ridder isn’t new to big moments.

In a recent conversation with MMA Junkie, he confessed about Whittaker’s recent loss to Khamzat Chimaev, “The Ikram (Aliskerov) fight is not that long ago, and he looked amazing in that one. The Khamzat fight was a bit unfortunate, I think, with the injury he came into it with. But he’s still there, very explosive, very dangerous dude. So I’m going to get into camp as soon as possible and get ready.”

But while the Dutchman shocked fans with a TKO win over Bo Nickal, now, he wants to remind the world he’s still a submission artist at heart. De Ridder revealed, “Very explosive (Whittaker), likes to leap in, hands low, good punches, good kicks. So it’s not an easy one to prepare for in any way, shape, or form. We’ll see where it goes. You’ll see me do the same thing I always do: Put the pressure, get close, try to hit him with some good shots, take him down, choke him out. That’s the plan.”

If De Ridder can tap out Whittaker, he believes a title shot could be just around the corner. With Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev set for UFC 319, he’s watching closely as he further shared, “If I just keep making good on all these opportunities, I think I have a good chance to fight for the title in a little while here.”

With the Hawkeye faithful backing him and a care package to prove it, ‘The Dutch Knight’ is now marching into a bigger fight. Against Robert Whittaker, he’ll face speed, power, and championship experience. The question is, does Reinier De Ridder have what it takes to find himself in the mix for the elusive UFC gold? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!