Reinier de Ridder

Reinier de Ridder, known as "The Dutch Knight," is a Dutch mixed martial artist who competes in the middleweight division of the UFC.

Born and raised in the Netherlands, de Ridder grew up in Tilburg before settling in Breda, where he studied physical therapy. He began training in judo as a child, but it was his discovery of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a young adult that reshaped his athletic path, setting him on a course from grappling mats to the biggest stage in mixed martial arts.

De Ridder's credentials on the ground are extensive. He holds a black belt in judo earned in his teens and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a discipline he pursued relentlessly for years, testing himself against seasoned competitors far more experienced than him. His grappling resume includes a silver medal at the European Jiu-Jitsu Championship and matches against some of the sport's most respected submission specialists.

Inside the cage, de Ridder built his reputation as a methodical, grappling-first fighter. His size, control on the mat, and submission instincts allow him to dictate pace and position against opponents of any style, while his striking has continued to round into a complementary weapon rather than a mere afterthought.

De Ridder's career highlights are headlined by his historic run in ONE Championship, where he became a simultaneous two-division world champion, holding both the middleweight and light heavyweight titles at once, a feat achieved by only a handful of fighters in the promotion's history. He defended his middleweight crown multiple times before eventually signing with the UFC, arriving with a resume built across years of international competition.

Beyond the record book, de Ridder has become a figure associated with the growth of high-level grappling in European MMA. He co-founded Combat Brothers, a gym in Breda, where he applies his background in physical therapy and movement science to help develop the next generation of Dutch fighters. Equal parts competitor and teacher, he represents a rare blend of academic rigor and hard-nosed combat sports pedigree, cementing his identity as one of the sport's most credentialed grapplers-turned-champions.