Reinier de Ridder is ready to intervene in the event that Khamzat Chimaev leaves.
“RDR” will be active this Saturday as the UFC heads to Abu Dhabi for a Fight Night card loaded at Etihad Arina. After filming “O” for Beau Nikkal on his final outing, De Rider tries to spike the middleweight rankings when he meets former title holder and current No. 5 contender Robert Whitaker.
And while De Ridder is focused on getting the biggest victory of his career in the UAE, he continues to cross his fingers as the UFC intervenes and fights through 185-pound champion Dricus du Plessis in August.
“I still hope that Cam That brings out the last minute of UFC 319,” De Ridar told Submission Radio. “It’s two weeks after my fight, so I might be lucky.”
Chimaev is currently planning to try “DDP” in Chicago next month. However, the undefeated Chechnya monsters have a history of getting out of the battle. The most infamous incident occurred in September 2022 when Chimaev gained significant weight on the size of the planned headliner with Nate Diaz at UFC 279.
Before that, Chimaev retreated more than three times from his battle with former welterweight King Leon Edwards, and was forced to reschedule an October clash with Robert Whitaker, which was expected to decline four months ago by the UFC.
De Ridder can punch tickets to title shots in Abu Dhabi
As for De Ridder, the former Two-Division One World Champion runs high after bagging the trio finishes against Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland and former Nittany Lion.
De Ridder could be the next man in middleweight crown shot after winning the “Reaper” in Abu Dhabi. It remains to be seen whether the opportunity will come as a short-term alternative.