Khamzat Chimaev wasted no time targeting his next opponent after winning the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 319 on Saturday night. The new champion called for Dutch candidate Renier de Rider with a provocative message that burned social media.
Khamzat Wantes Wantes
‘Borz’ Khamzat Chimaev wrote “RDR☠☠️” with reference to De Ridder’s initials, and posted a simple but direct message to X. De Ridder immediately said, “Congratulations to Belt @kchimaev, but we’ll show you what the real grappling advantage looks like. Sign the contract.”
Chimaev recovered with a bold warning in his comments. “I will make you look like (a) a white belt, Habibi.
Chimaev’s dominant title victory
31-year-old “Bolz” Chimaev secured his first UFC title in a unanimous decision victory over Doricus Duplesis at Chicago’s United Center. All three judges won the contest 50-44 in favor of Chechnya-born wrestlers, marking one of the most dominant title performances in recent memory.
Khamzat Chimaev’s wrestling proved unstoppable through a 25-minute contest. He completed 12 of 17 takedown attempts, maintaining control on the ground for an astonishing 21 minutes and 40 seconds, accounting for almost 88% of his total combat time. The Champion landed 529 strikes compared to Duplesis’s 45, setting up a new UFC record in the process.
“I’m not a game plan by any means. I was just coming in and working to do it at the gym,” Chimeh said after the victory. “That guy, I couldn’t finish him, (I) respect that guy. He is the only champion who said my name.”
De Ridder’s impressive UFC run
Reinier de Ridder brings important credentials to potential title shots. The 34-year-old Dutch fighter entered the UFC with an impressive pedigree as a former two-division champion in one championship in November 2024, hosting both middleweight and light heavyweight belts at the same time.
De Ridder maintained a perfect 4-0 record in the UFC, finishing three wins. His most recent victory came in July when he defeated former champion Robert Whitaker due to a split decision at UFC Abu Dhabi despite being dropped in the third round. This victory was a highly promoted prospect Bo Nickal’s TKO, along with his first decision victory at the UFC, following his previous submission victory over Gerald Meerschaert and Kevin Holland.
October showdown in Abu Dhabi
Both fighters have expressed interest in a meeting at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on October 25th. The event will feature the heavyweight title fight between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane in the main event. Chimaev showed his desire for a quick turnaround after expressing his interest in defending his title in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
“I’m 100% ready (October),” De Ridder said in a recent interview with Submission Radio. “I’m still in good health. I haven’t stopped training. I’ve eaten a little too much, but I can adjust it very quickly.
The potential match shows an interesting clash of grappling style. Chimev’s choking wrestling approach has overwhelmed all opponents in his 15 undefeated career, but De Ridder brings elite submission skills through tap-outs, with 13 of 21 professional wins.
Former UFC champion Robert Whitaker, who faced both men, believes that De Ridder can pose unique challenges. He is a tall, bottom player jiu-jitsu guy. Then, if he respects his ground like he did in the Battle of Burns and it becomes a bit of a slugfest, I think De Ridar is really unconventional. He has some annoying attacks and shots that may bring sadness to Chimaev. ”
De Ridder expressed confidence in Chimaev’s ability to handle wrestling domination. “I think it’s a huge challenge for him,” he told Submission Radio. “If I’m defeated, it’s perfect. If I’m going to defeat him, it’s perfect. If we’re still standing, it’s great. I think we have a chance to do well in this fight.”
Dutchman specifically highlighted his bottom game as a potential weapon.
A victory over De Ridder would mark Chimaev’s first title defense and further establish his dominance over the middleweight division. For De Ridder, the opportunity represents his chance to become the first fighter to pass his first professional defeat while earning UFC Gold in the process. His unorthodox style and submission expertise can provide a blueprint for solving puzzles that have confusing all previous Chimehh opponents.
The verbal sparring between the two fighters has already generated great fan interest, setting the stage for what could be one of 2025’s most persuasive title fights if the matchup were to come to life in Abu Dhabi.