Despite hearing extensive praise for Bo Nickal`s wrestling skills before their fight at UFC Des Moines, Reinier de Ridder was determined to test the three-time NCAA champion across all areas when they met in the co-main event.
From the outset, de Ridder proactively engaged in the clinch multiple times. He even executed a skillful reversal in the first round, ending up in a dominant position on top of Nickal and seeking submissions. He continued to control Nickal in similar grappling exchanges in the second round, eventually spotting an opening to land significant knees to the body.
Even though Nickal was highly regarded as a future champion with potentially the best wrestling in the sport, de Ridder never hesitated to challenge him in that specific domain during their bout, a strategy that clearly proved effective.
Speaking at the post-fight press conference for UFC Des Moines, de Ridder commented, “He might be [a god of wrestling], but I believe this applies to everything in life, particularly in fighting: you should concentrate on what you do well, what your strengths are. Don`t let what anyone else brings to the table distract you.”
He added firmly, “It doesn’t matter. My jiu-jitsu, my judo, my wrestling is so proficient, I can compete with anyone. Their skills don`t change that.”
Although he hadn`t yet reviewed the fight footage, de Ridder had a clear sense of how he shifted the momentum. He initially displayed his grappling prowess before surprising Nickal by showcasing his striking abilities.
By the time he secured the finish, Nickal appeared noticeably fatigued in his movements, directly reflecting the consistent punishment de Ridder was inflicting on the feet.
Reflecting on his performance, de Ridder stated, “It wasn’t too bad, right? I landed some effective strikes.” He described a moment in the clinch: “At one point, I managed to create a little space, shifting his hips slightly with the whizzer, and then I connected with a knee in the first round. In the second round, I got on top, but I was impressed by how well he defended from the bottom. It wasn`t simple to secure a dominant position immediately; I couldn`t posture up right away because he moved quite well. I looked for a side choke briefly, but the opportunity wasn`t there.”
Regarding the ending sequence, he recalled, “I haven`t seen the finish clearly, but I think I threw a right hook followed by a left knee, hitting him as he came in. Each time I hit his body, I sensed his hands dropping slightly. I saw him shifting to his right as if hurt. Recognizing he was hurt, I stepped back, then stepped back in. He hit me with a 1-2, and I thought, `That`s not smart.` I believe I hit his body again, and then I finished him off because I felt he was already close to being finished.”
While widely recognized for his formidable submission skills, de Ridder is quick to emphasize his roots in the Netherlands – a nation renowned for producing some of the most formidable strikers in combat sports history.
“I`m still Dutch,” de Ridder affirmed. “I`m still Dutch deep down inside.”
Regarding his next move, de Ridder made his intentions clear immediately after the fight, calling out former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland. Strickland hasn`t competed since his rematch loss to Dricus du Plessis early in 2024.
With no opponent or return date scheduled, Strickland is available, and de Ridder is enthusiastic about the prospect of adding Strickland`s name to his record, even if it means enduring some verbal sparring.
“I think I might regret it a little bit,” de Ridder joked about Strickland`s well-known trash talk. “As I said in the cage, this was the best American wrestler; now let`s face the best American striker.”
He concluded, “I like Sean. He`s a funny guy; quite a character. He`s ranked in the top five, right? I think it`s an interesting stylistic matchup. He has a very good jab, and I don`t think my jab is bad either. I would like that fight. I would genuinely want that fight.”
