If Khamzat Chimaev thinks he can make Reinier de Ridder “look like a white belt” inside the octagon, then he dares him to come try.
Newly crowned UFC middleweight champion Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) went after de Ridder (20-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) on Tuesday with posts on X directed at the contender, just days after beating Dricus Du Plessis in an all-time dominant title fight at UFC 319.
In one of those posts, Chimaev said he would show de Ridder the difference in their levels on the ground. The former two-division ONE Championship titleholder said he welcomes that offer.
“I think I can do well in all the positions,” de Ridder told MMA Junkie. “If I end up on bottom, if I end up on top. I believe I have a lot to show in that fight, and I think it could be a grappling fight for the ages. Our styles match up very cool, and I believe it could be a very awesome fight.
“The main thought in my mind is: If he takes me down, great. If I take him down, great. If it’s in the clinch, great. If it’s in the standup, it’s great. So I’m not worried about where it goes at all. I think I can hit him with some good knees. I believe I can take him down. I have some cool sh*t off my back as well. We’ll see.”
Chimaev’s messages toward de Ridder would indicate interest in the matchup from the champion, who said post-fight at UFC 319 in Chicago that he would be open to a quick turnaround for his first title defense at UFC 321 on Oct. 25 in Abu Dhabi.
UFC CEO Dana White expressed a willingness to grant Chimaev his wish if he’s serious about it. If it comes to fruition, de Ridder thinks he is the correct contender to be standing on the other side of the cage.
“There’s some momentum (behind the scenes),” de Ridder said. “I’m going to let (my manager) Ali (Abdelaziz) cook for a couple days, and we’ll figure it out soon, hopefully.
“It would be awesome to do it in Abu Dhabi again. That would be awesome. It makes sense, too, if we look at the division. I’m ready for it. Let’s see if it all comes together.”
