Reinier de Ridder has 13 submissions in 20 skilled wins, together with a pair of faucets in simply three fights contained in the Octagon. That’s why former middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker, will probably be trying to keep away from the bottom recreation when he tangles with “The Dutch Knight” atop this weekend’s UFC Abu Dhabi lineup.
A middleweight title shot may very well be on the road for each combatants.
“He’s excellent at taking the combat the place you’re uncomfortable,” Whittaker instructed MMA Junkie. “He’s bought a selected set of abilities and a selected recreation plan that, if he executes nicely, he provides you numerous issues.”
“Bo [Nickal] discovered that out the laborious method,” Whittaker continued. “I’m trying to be first and take the sport the place I’m sturdy. I really like being aggressive. I’m a striker by coronary heart, so I wish to try to get my mitts on him.”
De Ridder’s two profession losses have each come by means of knockout.
Whittaker (26-8) is trying to rebound from his first-round submission loss to middleweight title challenger Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 again in October. As for De Ridder (20-2), additionally 34, he improved to 3-0 underneath the UFC banner by stopping wrestling phenom Bo Nickal at UFC Des Moines earlier this 12 months in Iowa.
For the remainder of the UFC Abu Dhabi combat card and ABC lineup click on right here.
