Reinier de RidderPlayer·Reinier de Ridder, a former two-division champion in ONE ChampionshipCompetition·ONE Championship, is set to make a significant move back to the light heavyweight division, where he will face Roman DolidzePlayer·Roman Dolidze at UFCCompetition·UFC Sacramento on August 22. The highly anticipated bout, first reported by Leo Guimaraes and confirmed by mmafighting.com, will take place at the Golden 1 CenterVenue·Golden 1 Center.
De Ridder (21-4), known as 'The Dutch Knight', made his UFCCompetition·UFC debut in 2024 and quickly established himself as a formidable force in the middleweight category. He secured four consecutive victories, notably handing Bo NickalPlayer·Bo Nickal his first career loss and earning a split decision win over former champion Robert WhittakerPlayer·Robert Whittaker. These impressive performances positioned De Ridder on the cusp of a title shot. However, his momentum was halted by two consecutive defeats: a technical knockout against Brendan AllenPlayer·Brendan Allen and a decision loss to Caio BorralhoPlayer·Caio Borralho. Following the setback against Borralho, De Ridder announced his intention to return to the light heavyweight division, a weight class where he previously held championship gold outside the UFCCompetition·UFC.
His opponent, Roman DolidzePlayer·Roman Dolidze (15-5), has been a consistent presence in the UFCCompetition·UFC's middleweight rankings since joining the organization in 2020. After experiencing two recent losses in the 84-kilogram division, Dolidze is also making the strategic decision to move up to the 93-kilogram light heavyweight category. This move is not entirely new territory for Dolidze, who boasts an undefeated 3-0 record in the Octagon at light heavyweight. His last appearance in the division in 2024 saw him secure a decision victory over former title challenger Anthony SmithPlayer·Anthony Smith, demonstrating his capability at the heavier weight.
The clash between De Ridder and Dolidze represents a pivotal moment for both fighters as they seek to re-establish their trajectories within the UFCCompetition·UFC. For De Ridder, it is an opportunity to regain the form that saw him dominate in another major promotion and make a fresh start after recent middleweight challenges. For Dolidze, it is a chance to capitalize on his proven success at light heavyweight and climb the ranks in a division where he has previously excelled.
The Sacramento event will feature a middleweight clash between top-15 contenders Anthony HernandezPlayer·Anthony Hernandez and Gregory RodriguesPlayer·Gregory Rodrigues as its main event, adding further depth to the fight card.
Caio Borralho defeats Reinier De Ridder by unanimous decision at UFC 326. Credit: ZUMA Press Wire/IMAGO
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