Is Reinier de Ridder one of the most unique fighters in the UFC right now? That’s the question many MMA fans have been asking ever since the Dutchman started making waves in Dana White’s promotion — and for good reason! He’s a former two-division champion with a style that’s as unorthodox as it is effective, because of which his opponents are still struggling to figure him out.

So far, ‘RDR’ has been tested four times inside the UFC, and each time, he’s passed with flying colors. In his last outing at UFC Abu Dhabi, De Ridder edged out former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, solidifying himself as the front-runner for the next title shot. Now, he’s set to face Brendan Allen in the main event of UFC Vancouver, a fight that could even make the 185 lbs title picture. But before the Dutchman lights up the Octagon this weekend, let’s take a closer look at his fighting style and how he uses his grappling background to dominate his opponents. 

Reinier de Ridder’s grappling-heavy fighting style & submission techniques 

Reinier de Ridder might be known for his unusual kickboxing style, but primarily, he’s a grappler. At the age of six, ‘RDR’ started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. And by the time he reached his teenage years, ‘The Dutch Knight’ was already mastering submissions and had earned his black belt. After becoming an incredibly good grappler in such a short time, De Ridder participated in the 2016 European Jiu-Jitsu Championship and brought a shiny silver medal home. That accolade still reflects in his grappling-heavy fighting style. 

‘RDR’ is the kind of fighter who doesn’t like to hold the top position and smash his opponent. Instead, he constantly looks for chokes, which explains the staggering 14 submission wins on his record. While the former ONE two-division champ has every submission skill in his arsenal, the rear-naked choke seems to be his favorite way to finish opponents. However, if it’s not an RNC, he’ll threaten with a guillotine choke, which is another one of his go-to moves against his adversaries. 

Still, knowing how to pull off a submission is one part — the other is knowing how to use it! The Dutchman clearly knows how to actually complement his grappling game with striking. 

How does ‘RDR’s striking complement his ground game?  

In the UFC, Dricus du Plessis is well known for creating an effective striking style that goes way outside the traditional approach. Well, Reinier de Ridder happens to follow a similar path. Just like the former 185 lbs kingpin, ‘RDR’ uses loopy combinations instead of clean, precise jabs or one-twos. But wait… it’s not that he doesn’t know how to throw them. This approach simply works better with his grappling, especially when he mixes in elbows.

In the Gerald Meerschaert fight, ‘RDR’ couldn’t use his ground game effectively, so he switched things up. He started clinching with his opponent and landing uppercuts or elbows while breaking away. A similar approach was seen at UFC Des Moines, where De Ridder attacked Bo Nickal with knees against the cage, often from a Thai Plum or body-to-body clinch. That unpredictable striking style constantly keeps his opponents guessing.

But that’s not all. We also saw ‘RDR’ use more leg kicks and body shots against Robert Whittaker at UFC Abu Dhabi, showing clear evolution in the Dutchman’s overall striking arsenal. And if he ends up showing his best version at UFC Vancouver, Dana White might just have a reason to line him up against Khamzat Chimaev next year when the Paramount deal kicks into full gear.

With that being said, do you believe Reinier de Ridder actually has one of the more complex fighting styles in the UFC? Let us know in the comments section below.