Reinier De Ridder, once a dominant force in ONE Championship, is now advising fellow fighters to think twice before signing with the promotion. The 34-year-old Dutch fighter, who previously held titles in both the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions with ONE, recently moved to the UFC, winning his debut fight at UFC Vegas 100. De Ridder has since opened up about his experience, sharing his concerns with MMA fans and fighters alike.
After two tough losses to Anatoly Malykhin and an extended break before his last ONE Championship fight, De Ridder grew frustrated with the promotion. He shared his journey in a post-fight interview, cautioning fighters against joining ONE despite the appeal of international exposure and big promises.
Reinier De Ridder Warns Fighters to Avoid ONE Championship
In his words, the past few years with ONE were challenging, not just professionally but also on a personal level. “It’s been a bad couple of years,” De Ridder admitted. “The stress I’ve been put through, the stress my family has been put through to even just get fights, it hasn’t been nice.”
De Ridder didn’t hesitate to contrast his initial years at ONE with his recent experiences, noting a clear shift in how he was treated over time. “This is something that’s hard for me to talk bad because I had a couple of good years at ONE as well. In the beginning they treated me well, but over the last couple of years it’s been really bad.”
The Dutch fighter’s warning was clear and straightforward, emphasizing the lack of opportunities and difficulties he faced while waiting for fights. “This is something I feel I have to do for other fighters,” he explained. “If you think of signing with ONE Championship, don’t. It’s that simple, you should not, there’s nothing there, there’s no fights, you’re just wrong if you do this. If you sign there it’s a bad mistake.”
de Ridder to Fight in New York?
After his impressive UFC debut, De Ridder didn’t just celebrate; he entertained the idea of a quick turnaround fight in New York for UFC 309, joking with former UFC champion Michael Bisping. “Because New York is on the way home, so if you guys need me at, what’s in New York? Madison Square Garden?” he said. “If you need me there next week give me a call in the next couple of hours because after that I might be a little drunk!”
This lighthearted moment highlighted De Ridder’s excitement about his new UFC chapter, contrasting sharply with the frustration he expressed about his time with ONE Championship. While he once thrived at ONE, De Ridder’s message now serves as a caution for fighters considering a move there, stressing that the challenges behind the scenes might outweigh the rewards.
