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https://scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3168481/one-championship-reinier-de-ridder-grapple Mixed Martial Arts
ONE Championship: Reinier de Ridder to grapple Andre Galvao at ONE X after bloody beat down of Kiamrian Abbasov
- Undefeated Dutchman will return to Singapore in three weeks for exhibition bout against one of the greatest grapplers of all time
- Two-division MMA champion tells Vitaly Bigdash to make weight before ‘talking a big game’ after both win at ONE: Full Circle event
Reinier de Ridder heads to the cage for his middleweight title defence against Kiamrian Abbasov at ONE: Full Circle. Photos: ONE Championship
To say Reinier de Ridder is confident in his abilities would be an understatement.
“I’m the best fighter on the planet,” he said, matter-of-factly, when asked if Friday night’s impressive ONE Championship title defence against Kiamrian Abbasov in Singapore qualified him as the greatest middleweight in the world.
That dominance could soon spread to another sport in Asian martial arts promotion ONE, with two-division MMA champ De Ridder revealing he will face Brazilian jiu jitsu legend Andre Galvao in a submission grappling match at the organisation’s 10th anniversary show on March 26.
The “Dutch Knight” (15-0) made the announcement soon after underlining his status as arguably ONE’s greatest pound for pound fighter, following a masterclass against welterweight champion Abbasov in Friday’s Full Circle main event.
Reinier de Ridder gets his arm raised after beating Kiamrian Abbasov. Photo: ONE Championship
De Ridder submitted Abbasov with a third-round arm triangle at Singapore Indoor Stadium, and later insisted he would be back in three weeks for an exhibition against one of the greatest grapplers of all time.
“It was ONE’s idea,” he said in a post-fight interview backstage. “I wouldn’t have dreamed it. It came up a week ago and it’s such a thrill, man. A Dutch guy grappling one of the best grapplers in the world – it’s a big honour.”
A fourth-degree black belt with an overflowing trophy cabinet, Galvao signed to ONE last November to compete in MMA as well as submission grappling bouts, but has yet to make his debut.
De Ridder had called the 39-year-old out in a post-fight promo in the cage after his win over Abbasov, before later suggesting it was already a done deal.
“For some reason I envision myself choking him out but I could be wrong on that one.” De Ridder said. “He’s the best in the world. I’m an MMA fighter and he’s a grappler. But I’m so excited to have a chance like that. Just happy to get that shot.”
Galvao did not take long to respond, appearing to confirm the match-up by accepting the Dutchman’s challenge in an Instagram post.
“Let’s make it happen. I’m ready!” he wrote.
It would certainly be a much quicker turnaround for De Ridder, whose latest win came 10 months after he claimed the light heavyweight title – and his second belt – from Aung La N Sang.
“It’s perfect,” De Ridder added. “The last two years I haven’t been that active. The performances were good. Now everything’s clearing up and I want to make up for lost time. I want to be back here every season – Spring, Summer, Fall. Rack up all the belts. Be the guy I’m destined to be.”
Reinier de Ridder is congratulated by Kiamrian Abbasov.
The next title on his hit list in ONE is the heavyweight MMA strap, which will be decided between divisional king Arjan Bhullar and interim champ Anatoly Malykhin later this year.
De Ridder isn’t fussy about who he has to beat to get it.
“I think Bhullar has the better wrestling. Malykhin has the better striking,” he said. “I’m used to fighting strikers, but I can do this to anybody in the world. I’m not overestimating any of them. Give me both of them in one night.”
There is also another threat looming on the horizon at middleweight, after Vitaly Bigdash beat N Sang by unanimous decision on Friday’s Full Circle card.
Reinier de Ridder controls Kiamrian Abbasov on the ground.
The trilogy victory seemingly carved out Bigdash as the division’s No 1 contender – but not in De Ridder’s eyes.
“If it’s Bigdash, he should make weight first,” De Ridder said. “He missed weight this time. He’s talking a big game. Let him come down. Let him make weight, and then start talking s***.”
The 37-year-old former middleweight champ had tried to get under De Ridder’s skin by warning him “I’ll break your face” in a post-fight call-out.
“Make weight, meet me here and I’ll finish you,” De Ridder added in response, coldly.
Reinier de Ridder chokes Kiamrian Abbasov with an arm triangle.
He had experienced similar trash talk in the build-up to Friday’s fight, when the Kyrgyzstani “Brazen” Abbasov vowed to finish him – only to be dominated and bloodied on the feet and on the ground almost from bell to bell.
“They all say the same stuff,” De Rider said. “They all say they’ll knock me out, they all say they’ll dominate me. What do I do?
“They all talk. Everybody underestimates me, everybody doubts me. I just show up and show out.”
Reinier de Ridder smiles after submitting Kiamrian Abbasov.
“I think I’m getter better,” De Ridder added, in what might be a chilling warning for any pretenders to his thrones. “I work hard for it every day. Abbasov, all respect to him, but he didn’t stand a chance tonight. I know what I can do. I can do this to anybody on the planet.”
De Ridder’s performance was capped off by a US$50,000 performance bonus, but he was a little irked it wasn’t more.
“It’s sweet, but Malykhin got 100 [thousand dollars], so why not me? Come on,” he said, laughing.