Dutch middleweight contender Reinier De Ridder saw a new champion crowned at 185 pounds, and declared himself ready and willing to be the man to dethrone him in his first title defence.
De Ridder was in attendance at UFC 319 in Chicago to watch Chiimaev dominate Dricus Du Plessis for all five rounds en route to one of the most lop-sided title victories by a challenger in recent memory, and, chatting to Submission Radio, the Dutchman admitted he was impressed with what he saw from “Borz” at United Center.
“I was very surprised. What he was able to do was very, very impressive,” he said.
“It might not have been the most kind on in the eyes, but it was very, very cool that he was able to do it like that. The takedowns came relatively easily. His control on the floor was amazing. And I was very surprised that Dricus really didn’t really stand a chance at all.
“So, hats off to what Khamzat did right there. It’s very, very special.”
While he had words of praise for Chimaev, he wasn’t anywhere near as impressed with the outgoing champion, as he revealed his disappointment at how Du Plessis attempted to combat Chimaev in the wrestling exchanges and on the ground.
“I was very frustrated with him going for the guillotine, like, twice, very sloppily,” he said.
“It’s hard to get up sometimes when somebody is on your back like that, when they were against the wall, the side or the position with the hands locked. But there’s a few tricks he could have done better there.
“But mostly, then once he got up, then he scrambled in a weird way, and then ended up on bottom again because he kind of lost it with the guillotine. And he got stuck in that crucifix twice after the first time. I was like, ’F**k, man! Dude, don’t put your hand there! Put your hands somewhere else, dude! Make frames.’
“Who is really training with down in South Africa? Does he have a decent wrestler? Does he have guys of that level to train with? I’m not sure.”
With a new champion at the top of the division, all eyes have turned to the men most likely to be the next to challenge him. Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho are set to face off in Paris in what looks like a number-one contender match in September.
But with Chimaev stating his wish to compete in Abu Dhabi in October, that could open the door for one of the other top-ranked contenders at 185 pounds, with De Ridder and Anthony Hernandez the two men best placed to step in for that title fight.
De Ridder said he’d be ready for that opportunity, and blew off any suggestion that Hernandez was the most deserving man to take that chance.
“That’s wrong. Motherf**kers!” said De Ridder.
“You’re wrong. It’s me. I don’t know. He’s very good. And he definitely deserves a shot down the line, as well. And I’m going to give it to him.
“And Caio… Caio is the least deserving in my mind over the last year. He hasn’t really fought. But if he does well against Imavov, finishes Imavov, maybe he has something to say as well. Imavov is on a crazy run. He’s very complete. A great fighter as well. But maybe I can sneak by and do it quickly before they get a chance.”
To do that, he’d have to ensure he’s ready for UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, which takes place on October 25. It’s a little over two months away, and De Ridder said that if he got the call, he’ll be ready to go.
“I’ll be 100 percent ready,” he stated.
“I’m still in shape. I didn’t stop training. I did eat a little bit too much, but I can adjust that very quickly as well. And I will 100 percent be ready for that opportunity.”
And, in an interesting little tidbit, De Ridder also revealed that he has actually sparred with Chimaev in the past and, while he didn’t want to break the unspoken rule of revealing exactly what happened in those sessions, he did hint that things went positively for him.
“”h, we didn’t do a lot of jiu-jitsu,” he said.
“We did a lot of sparring – shoot-boxing and some wrestling against the cage. It was three years ago. I don’t want to… I’m not that guy. I’m not going to tell you exactly what happened, but … I didn’t do bad. Let’s keep it at that.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW9CHXtVbzg
