Reinier de Ridder Announces Move to Light Heavyweight After UFC 326 Loss, Shares Donuts with Teammates

Reinier de Ridder's time in the UFC middleweight division has come to an end.

Competing at UFC 326 last weekend, "RDR" faced Caio Borralho and was predominantly outmaneuvered by the Brazilian's precise striking and effective grappling counters. Despite sporadic successes, de Ridder couldn't maintain consistent offense and absorbed more damage, ultimately leading to a unanimous decision loss.

This defeat was de Ridder's second in a row, following his loss to Brendan Allen at UFC Vancouver in October, where he was forced to stop fighting after four demanding rounds.

"RDR" debuted in the UFC in November 2024, rapidly establishing himself in the middleweight division. Within a year, he amassed a four-fight winning streak, securing significant victories against fighters like Kevin Holland, Bo Nickal, and former champion Robert Whittaker.

It now seems Reinier de Ridder is no longer prepared to endure the strenuous process of cutting weight to the 185-pound middleweight limit.

Reinier de Ridder Announces Light Heavyweight Move, Shares Donuts with Teammates

On Wednesday morning, Reinier de Ridder posted an Instagram video of himself distributing donuts to his teammates at Kill Cliff FC. The accompanying caption read, "Drowning my sorrow in donuts and BIG NEWS."

"RDR" lightheartedly mentioned to his training partners that the donuts were intended to help them stay "heavy and strong," then disclosed his intention to transition to the UFC's light heavyweight division. He also expressed satisfaction with his performance against Caio Borralho at UFC 326, despite the loss.

Moving to the UFC's 205-pound light heavyweight division will not be new territory for Reinier de Ridder. The 35-year-old Dutch fighter previously competed in both the light heavyweight and heavyweight categories during his tenure with ONE Championship, where he also secured middleweight and light heavyweight titles.

"RDR" currently holds a professional MMA record of 21 wins and 4 losses, with a 4–2 record within the UFC. Out of his 21 victories, 18 have come by way of finish: five by knockout and thirteen by submission.