Reinier de Ridder Announces Move to Light Heavyweight After Second Straight Loss

Reinier de Ridder's time competing in the UFC middleweight division has come to an end.

"RDR" recently returned to action at UFC 326, facing Caio Borralho. In the bout, de Ridder was largely outmaneuvered by the Brazilian's precise striking and timely grappling counters. While he did manage to find brief windows of opportunity, he struggled to build consistent offense and absorbed more significant damage, ultimately resulting in a unanimous decision defeat.

This setback marks de Ridder's second consecutive loss, as he was previously defeated by Brendan Allen at UFC Vancouver in October, a fight where he was forced to retire on the stool after four grueling rounds.

Since his UFC debut in November 2024, "RDR" quickly made his presence felt in the middleweight division, assembling a four-fight winning streak within a year. This impressive run included notable victories against fighters such as Kevin Holland, Bo Nickal, and former champion Robert Whittaker.

It now appears that Reinier de Ridder is no longer willing to endure the rigorous process of cutting weight to meet the 185-pound middleweight limit.

Reinier de Ridder Treats Teammates While Announcing Light Heavyweight Transition

On Wednesday morning, Reinier de Ridder posted a video on Instagram showing him distributing donuts to his teammates at Kill Cliff FC. The accompanying caption read, "Drowning my sorrow in donuts and BIG NEWS."

"RDR" playfully told his training partners that the treats were intended to keep them "heavy and strong," before revealing his plan to move up to the UFC's light heavyweight division. Despite his recent loss to Caio Borralho at UFC 326, de Ridder mentioned he was still satisfied with his overall performance.

A transition to the UFC's 205-pound division will not be unfamiliar territory for Reinier de Ridder. The 35-year-old Dutchman previously competed at both light heavyweight and heavyweight during his tenure with ONE Championship, where he notably captured both the middleweight and light heavyweight titles.

"RDR" currently holds a professional mixed martial arts record of 21 wins and 4 losses, including a 4–2 record in the UFC. Of his 21 victories, 18 have come by way of finish, with five knockouts and thirteen submissions.