Reinier de Ridder is able to step in if Khamzat Chimaev steps out.
‘RDR’ can be again in motion this Saturday when the UFC heads to Abu Dhabi for a loaded Combat Night time card in Etihad Area. After taking Bo Nickal’s ‘O’ in his final outing, de Ridder will look to skyrocket himself up the middleweight rankings when he meets ex-titleholder and present fifth-ranked contender, Robert Whittaker.
And whereas de Ridder is concentrated on getting the most important win of his profession within the UAE, he’s preserving his fingers crossed that the UFC will name him to step in and struggle reigning 185-pound champion Dricus Du Plessis in August.
“I’m nonetheless hoping Khamzat pulls out final minute for UFC 319,” de Ridder informed Submission Radio. “It’s two weeks after my struggle, so possibly we get fortunate.”
Chimaev is at the moment scheduled to problem ‘DDP’ subsequent month in Chicago. Nonetheless, the undefeated Chechen monster has a historical past of pulling out of fights. Essentially the most notorious incident got here in September 2022 when Chimaev stepped on the size considerably obese for his scheduled headliner with Nate Diaz at UFC 279.
Earlier than that, Chimaev backed out of fights with former welterweight king Leon Edwards a minimum of thrice, and compelled the UFC to reschedule his October conflict with Robert Whittaker, which was anticipated to go down 4 months prior.
de Ridder may punch his ticket to a title shot in Abu Dhabi
As for de Ridder, the previous two-division ONE world champion is using excessive after bagging a trio of finishes towards Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and the previous Nittany Lion.
With a win over ‘The Reaper’ in Abu Dhabi, de Ridder may very properly be the following man in line for a shot on the middleweight crown. Whether or not or not that chance comes as a short-notice alternative stays to be seen.
