Reinier de Ridder (red gloves) blows the crowd a kiss after defeating Bo Nickal (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Wells Fargo Arena on May 3, 2025, in Des Moines.

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Reinier De Ridder And Nassourdine Imavov Trade Verbal Shots About Title Opportunity With Khamzat Chimaev Looking On

Reinier de Ridder (red gloves) blows the crowd a kiss after defeating Bo Nickal (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Wells Fargo Arena on May 3, 2025, in Des Moines.

The UFC middleweight division has become a fascinating chess game. With Khamzat Chimaev sitting pretty as the newly crowned champion, several contenders are making their cases for why they should be first in line, including Nassourdine Imavov and Reinier de Ridder. The division has seen plenty of shake ups recently, with fighters rising and falling in the rankings based on impressive wins or devastating losses that completely change the landscape overnight.

What makes this situation even more interesting is how different fighters handle the pressure of being so close to a title opportunity. Some stay quiet and let their fighting do the talking, while others aren’t afraid to speak up and demand what they think they have earned. The latest drama involves two fighters who both believe they have done enough to secure the next crack at Chimaev’s belt.

Reinier De Ridder Makes His Case With Typical Bluntness

Reinier de Ridder has never been one to mince words, and his recent comments about the title picture show exactly why fans love his straightforward approach. When asked about Nassourdine Imavov’s claims that he deserves the next title shot after beating Caio Borralho at UFC Paris, de Ridder didn’t hold back with his response while talking to MMA Junkie.

No, f*ck off. I’m next”

The Dutch fighter has good reason to feel confident about his spot in the title conversation. He’s been incredibly active throughout the year, looking to notch his fifth UFC win in just twelve months if he beats Brendan Allen at UFC Fight Night 262. That kind of activity level is exactly what the UFC loves to see from its contenders, especially when those wins come against legitimate competition. De Ridder originally was supposed to face Anthony Hernandez in what many saw as a title eliminator. But Hernandez’s withdrawal opened the door for Allen to step in.

What’s particularly interesting about de Ridder’s approach is how he’s already preparing for the Chimaev fight mentally and physically. He mentioned working with Chechen training partners to get ready for Khamzat’s grappling-heavy style, which shows he’s not just talking about wanting the title shot – he’s actually preparing like it’s already his. This kind of preparation and confidence often translates well when fighters actually get their opportunity, because they’ve been visualizing and training for that specific matchup for months.

Nassourdine Imavov Responds With Social Media Shade

Nassourdine Imavov didn’t appreciate de Ridder’s dismissive comments, but his response came in the form of modern MMA communication. A simple bored emoji posted on X said it all!

Sometimes the most effective comebacks are the ones that don’t use any words at all. That single emoji managed to convey exactly what Imavov thinks about de Ridder’s claims while also showing he’s not going to get drawn into a war of words.

The French fighter has legitimate reasons to feel confident about his position in the title race. His five-fight winning streak includes some solid names, and his recent victory over Borralho at UFC Paris was particularly impressive. Fighting in Paris and delivering a strong performance shows he can handle pressure situations, which is exactly what title fights demand from contenders.

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But here’s where things get really interesting. Khamzat Chimaev himself chimed in on the debate through Instagram comments. He essentially said that it doesn’t matter to him who gets the next shot because the result will be the same regardless.

“Doesn’t matter. Same same.”

That kind of confidence from a champion adds another layer to this whole situation. It suggests he’s ready to face whoever the UFC puts in front of him without any preference for stylistic matchups or easier opponents.

(Image Credit: Lily Smith/The Regis – Imagn Images)

Khamzat Chimaev

Nassourdine Imavov

Reinier de Ridder

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!