Two-division ONE Championship title-holder Reinier de Ridder is hoping to defend his middleweight belt against Vitaly Bigdash next, but the Dutchman has other options in mind if that fight does not occur. Russia’s Bigdash asserted himself as the next man in line for de Ridder, who also holds ONE’s light heavyweight title, when he defeated former champion Aung La N Sang by decision in February. Yet booking the fight could be easier said than done. Russian citizens are not currently allowed to enter ONE’s home base of Singapore because of sanctions imposed by the local government following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. That means the company will need to venture outside the city state to promote a De Ridder vs Bigdash fight – something it has not done since a series of events in Bangkok in the summer of 2020. “It’s all about where we can get him,” De Ridder told the Post of his planned fight with Bigdash. “Because of the status now with Russia it might be hard to get him to Singapore so we’re talking about doing it somewhere else. But there’s nothing in writing as of now.” ONE Championship: Bhullar signs new deal, will compete in pro wrestling If the fight with Bigdash (12-2) fails to come together promptly, de Ridder (15-0) is also interested in defending his light heavyweight title against heavyweight champion Arjan Bhullar, who recently signed a new deal with ONE. The Dutchman has previously called for a heavyweight title shot against Bhullar (11-1). That fight is seemingly off the table, but he is holding out hope that the heavyweight champion might be willing to drop down a division to make it happen. “Why not Bhullar at light heavyweight?” De Ridder said. “He doesn’t want to do it at heavyweight. ONE doesn’t really want to do it at heavyweight. Then let’s do it at light heavyweight.” The obvious issue with this suggestion is that Bhullar, who typically weighs in near the heavyweight limit, may have difficulty reaching de Ridder’s light heavyweight home. Yet de Ridder believes it would not only be doable for the Indian-Canadian heavyweight champion, but beneficial. “It would be good for his health,” the Dutchman said with a smirk. De Ridder’s top priority is staying active. The two-division MMA champion is even interested in competing in other combat sports to ensure that happens, suggesting a Muay Thai fight with heavyweight striker Alain Ngalani of Hong Kong. “The interesting one is Ngalani in Muay Thai,” he said when asked about other options. “The guy is really a Muay Thai warrior. In MMA, it would not be too interesting, but in Muay Thai it’s a great match-up. Bigdash likes to pull out. [That fight is] unsure right now. Let’s have some fun in the meantime.” While de Ridder has contingency plans in place, his hope is that he will be able to defend his middleweight belt against Bigdash in the near future. “Bigdash, let’s get him done first,” he said. “If he’s available that would be the first best option.” De Ridder last competed at ONE X in late March, when he battled BJJ legend Andre Galvao to a draw in a 12-minute submission grappling match. That bout was preceded by a second-round submission win over Kiamrian Abbasov, which marked his first defence of the middleweight title.