On 18th October, Reinier de Ridder will step into the Octagon for his fifth UFC bout at UFC Vancouver, a pivotal fight on his path to a potential title shot. In recent years, fans have witnessed meteoric rises in the sport, but few have matched the rapid ascent of the middleweight standout ‘RDR’. A highly underrated talent, he spent the past decade competing across the European circuit before moving to Asia’s premier MMA promotion, ONE Championship, where he first made his mark. There, de Ridder captured global attention by becoming a two-division ONE Champion, securing both the middleweight (2017–2018) and light heavyweight belts.

Despite dominating the Asian MMA scene, Reinier de Ridder’s profile remained largely regional until last year. After parting ways with ONE Championship, he made the move to the UFC at age 34, later than most, yet still in his prime. Since joining the middleweight division, he has steadily climbed the ranks, impressing fans with his technical skill and consistent performances. Analysts and fans alike continue to marvel at how the former ONE Champion transitions so effectively from 205lbs (2019–2024) to middleweight, with particular curiosity surrounding his fight-week weight management and typical walk-around weight.

Reinier de Ridder’s walk-around weight & weight cut process

Reinier de Ridder’s journey under the Dana White & Co. banner has been nothing short of impressive. In his last three UFC appearances, he faced some of the middleweight division’s most formidable opponents, including Robert Whittaker, Bo Nickal, and Kevin Holland. While Nickal made a strong push toward a title shot, ‘the Dutch Knight’ continues his steady climb up the rankings.

Standing at 6’4”, Reinier de Ridder possesses a tall, lanky, and athletic frame that defines his fighting style. This physique also accounts for why the former ONE Champion often weighs above the 185-pound limit, much like peers such as Khamzat Chimaev and Alex Pereira. During his second UFC outing, de Ridder tipped the scales at 212 lbs against Kevin Holland. Ahead of his upcoming bout with Brendan Allen, he shared a video showing his scale reading 100 kg, or 220 pounds, confirming that he is “basically on weight.”

While some fans have expressed concern over his weight, Reinier de Ridder’s experience in ONE Championship highlights the strict regulation of weight cuts. Fighters there must pass rigorous hydration tests before competing, leaving no room for “sanction cheating.” In the UFC, however, officials do not enforce hydration testing, allowing athletes like Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan to endure extreme weight cuts, sometimes even restricting water intake. For ‘RDR’, this system makes cutting weight considerably easier compared to his ONE Championship days.

How Reinier de Ridder’s size gives him an advantage at UFC middleweight

There’s no denying that drastic weight cuts can sap a fighter’s energy, but height and reach often help offset size disadvantages. Fighters like Alex Pereira have demonstrated how effective reach and leverage can be, famously sending opponents to sleep with his left hook. Similarly, Reinier de Ridder, while primarily a grappler, uses his height and post-UFC ceremonial weight recovery to work efficiently and decisively.

In his bout against Bo Nickal, for instance, ‘RDR’ submitted Kevin Holland, who weighed 190 lbs post-fight, while de Ridder came in heavier, leveraging his size advantage to secure the choke. Many fans have questioned why de Ridder, despite a decorated light heavyweight career, chose not to remain in that division. According to the Dutch, moving up in 205lbs isn’t as straightforward as it seems.

In a 2023 interview with SCMP MMA, he explained: “It’s pretty hard to put on some weight if you do the type of work we do. Like on the mats every day. It’s basically cardio all day. So putting on muscle mass is a very tedious process.”

With Reinier de Ridder just one day away from facing Brendan Allen, the big question remains: can the Dutch Knight sustain his momentum in the middleweight division? Share your thoughts below.