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 Hopes Khamzat Chimaev Withdraws From The UFC 319 Dricus Du Plessis Fight

Reinier De Ridder hopes Khamzat Chimaev will pull put of his scheduled UFC 319 fight against Dricus Du Plessis!

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.

Things can change fast in MMA, and Reinier de Ridder knows it better than most. The former ONE Championship double champ has always been a smart and strategic fighter. His dream of stepping into the UFC spotlight has been simmering ever since he beat Bo Nickal, a win that helped silence doubters and introduced ‘The Dutch Knight’ to a broader fanbase. While most new contenders usually climb the rankings one step at a time, de Ridder seems to prefer the elevator. And now, with UFC 319 just around the corner, he sees a golden opportunity, if Khamzat Chimaev ends up pulling out.

Chimaev is set to face reigning middleweight champ Dricus Du Plessis on August 16 in a fight that could shift the entire division. But Reinier’s eyes are glued to the chaos that might unfold. Khamzat’s history with weight issues and illness has fans (and opponents) always wondering if he will make it to fight night. And while most fighters politely dodge these topics, de Ridder is openly hoping for a last minute dropout.

Reinier De Ridder Wants The Title Shot

Speaking on Submission Radio, De Ridder revealed that he is hoping that Chimaev will withdraw from the fight against Du Plessis. With the backup fighter Nassourdine Imavov stepping away for his own bout, there’s currently no plan B. That’s where de Ridder hopes to slide in. He wants to take his spot in the title fight.

“I’m still hoping Khamzat pulls out last minute. It’s two weeks after my fight, so maybe we can still get lucky… That’d be nice, that’d be nice. Maybe not too nice to make weight again, but we can discuss the terms after.”

The timing is dicey. Reinier is scheduled to fight former UFC champ Robert Whittaker just two weeks before UFC 319. But that hasn’t slowed his ambition one bit. He said that he would be down for a quick turnaround if the stars align. In a sport where momentum is king, he’s clearly trying to ride the wave off his win over Nickal and jump ahead before others catch up.

The UFC hasn’t confirmed a replacement fighter yet, but with Imavov out, de Ridder is arguably the most interesting option left. He’s skilled, he’s active, and he’s already lined up to fight a top contender. If he gets past Whittaker and Chimaev stumbles, boom, title shot! Reinier de Ridder is doing what smart fighters do: staying ready, staying visible, and staying hungry. All he needs now is for fate (and maybe Khamzat’s immune system) to give him a little help!

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

Dricus Du Plessis

Khamzat Chimaev

Reinier de Ridder

UFC 319

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!