Each time Reinier de Ridder thinks he’s about to get a while off, the UFC comes calling with one other supply and he inevitably says sure.
The most recent instance got here after de Ridder dispatched former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker to increase his win streak to 4-0 within the octagon and he barely had time to get residence earlier than he acquired a suggestion to face Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez in a possible No. 1 contender’s bout at UFC Vancouver. Whereas he was anticipating somewhat break, de Ridder admits he didn’t blink when the UFC reached out to him as a result of he knew another win over any individual like Hernandez was the right exclamation level to get him a title shot.
Sadly, these plans modified simply a few weeks later.
“They known as me and mentioned why don’t we do the ‘Fluffy’ combat? I mentioned why not,” de Ridder advised MMA Preventing. “So I bought again to work. I put a variety of work in that first couple of weeks due to the cardio factor. I actually needed to get that half proper as a result of it was ‘Fluffy.’ I went to work like loopy early on. Then a few weeks in, they known as me and advised me he was out. Requested me if I needed to stay on the cardboard and I needed to. I feel it’s good timeline smart to combat now to line myself up for the subsequent ‘Don’t be a b*tch, simply say sure’: Reinier de Ridder slams Paulo Costa over combat stipulations shot. They had been completely satisfied for me to remain on the cardboard.
“It was a little bit of a wrestle to search out any individual so for a few days, I assumed possibly there wouldn’t be any combat. I used to be a bit disenchanted in that however ultimately Brendan [Allen] was the man to step up, take the combat so I’m very completely satisfied about it.”
Now de Ridder is scheduled to face Brendan Allen within the five-round primary occasion from Canada however he wasn’t really the UFC’s first selection.
Initially, the promotion reached out to former title challenger Paulo Costa to fill the spot vacated by Hernandez after he not too long ago picked up a win over Roman Kopylov at UFC 318. Whereas not the top-ranked contender he as soon as was, Costa continues to be a reputation that attracts eyeballs at any time when he competes and his addition to the primary occasion appeared to be an important thought.
Ultimately, de Ridder revealed that Costa simply needed too many concessions to truly contemplate taking the combat, which admittedly didn’t sit too effectively with him.
“Costa would have been enjoyable simply because it’s a enjoyable dude,” de Ridder mentioned. “The whole buildup would have been cool. So he was up first, we had been in dialog with him first however he put up too many stipulations.
“He needed a catchweight. He needed three rounds as a substitute of 5. So we mentioned for those who don’t need it then you definately don’t get it. Then we moved onto Brendan, which I’m very pleased with as effectively.”
Based mostly on the UFC’s personal standings, Allen is at the moment the No. 9 ranked middleweight whereas Costa is sitting behind him at No. 13. On paper that makes Allen the higher selection however de Ridder is aware of Costa carries identify worth, which typically means greater than a rating.
Clearly, de Ridder accepted Costa with no strings hooked up however the Brazilian couldn’t say the identical factor.
“I might say for those who get a chance like that, don’t be a bitch. Simply say sure,” de Ridder mentioned about Costa. “Don’t put any stipulations there and he would have had an important probability to be again into title dialog.
“However he put all these stipulations there and we mentioned we’ll transfer on and see if there’s any individual else who simply needs to take the combat. I feel possibly even when we mentioned no, Paulo, it needs to be middleweight and 5 rounds, possibly he would have nonetheless have taken it however it was already too late sadly. Possibly someday. It will be enjoyable to get all of the buildup with him sometime.”
In the case of Allen as an opponent, de Ridder has some familiarity as a result of they each skilled underneath the identical roof at Kill Cliff FC. After becoming a member of the UFC roster from ONE Championship, de Ridder sought out the Florida primarily based gymnasium to present him some new appears to be like and he beloved it there a lot that he ultimately relocated his total household to the realm.
Whereas they had been working with a variety of the identical coaches and teammates, de Ridder says he by no means really bought the prospect to work with Allen as a result of his upcoming opponent simply had no real interest in it.
“The primary few occasions I got here in, he was there,” de Ridder defined. “I don’t give a f*ck. I simply went as much as him and mentioned hello and what’s up and let’s practice however he didn’t wish to practice. I respect that as effectively. It’s what it’s. We’ll discover out now.
“I don’t care an excessive amount of about coaching. I’ll practice with anyone. It’s not such as you’re going to search out out one thing that you simply’re going to make use of towards me within the combat, in my thoughts. It’s what it’s. He didn’t wish to practice so it didn’t occur and now we’re going to search out out within the cage.”
Stylistically, de Ridder didn’t have to alter an excessive amount of going from Hernandez to Allen, though primarily based on previous performances most expect this upcoming combat to pit two prime grapplers towards one another.
For his half, de Ridder doesn’t low cost that risk, though he positively sees a stark distinction between his floor sport and what Allen brings to the desk.
“His grappling is sweet however a bit sloppy at occasions,” de Ridder mentioned. “He falls off the again very incessantly so possibly that’s one thing he’s adjusted by now. Has first rate submissions, very opportunistic. He jumps on stuff when he sees it. His wrestling is first rate. He has first rate takedowns, first rate takedown protection, not too nice.
“However I feel the factor that he lacks in essentially the most, he form of fades within the later rounds. He begins very onerous, very sharp and superb within the first spherical, he’s very harmful as he did towards [Nassourdine] Imavov. He bought on prime and managed him mainly your complete spherical, as he did within the ‘Fluffy’ combat, he did very effectively within the first spherical as effectively. However then within the later rounds, he form of fades somewhat bit. He doesn’t even look that drained however one thing modifications and he’s not the identical man within the later rounds. So we’ll see for this one.”
On paper the stakes have modified barely however de Ridder believes the outcome ought to nonetheless keep the identical the place an emphatic win — most notably a end — ought to put him in place to battle for a UFC title subsequent.
“That’s the purpose,” de Ridder mentioned about placing Allen away. “If I can do this, I feel it’s very clear who the highest contender is.”
