Reinier de Ridder, a top UFC middleweight contender, is rooting for Dricus Du Plessis to keep his title against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 on August 16, 2025. Speaking to MMA Fighting on August 4, 2025, de Ridder said a Du Plessis win would mean a faster title shot for him. Coming off a win over Robert Whittaker, the Dutch fighter believes Chimaev’s rising fame could stall the division if he wins.
De Ridder’s take on UFC 319
De Ridder shared his strategy, saying:
“I think if Khamzat wins this one, especially if he wins decisively, he’ll be a huge name, and that might come with him taking a lot of time off after. So it might be better if Dricus wins, and then we can fight in 4–6 months. That would be best. So hopefully, it would be nice if Dricus wins and we can line it up.”
Reinier de Ridder prefers Dricus to beat Khamzat Chimaev — says it’s better for activity and hopes to line up a fight in 4–6 months 👀⏱️
“If Khamzat wins decisively, he’ll be a huge name, and that might come with him taking a lot of time off after. So it might be better if… pic.twitter.com/oZTl0CXCq7
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) August 4, 2025
Dricus Du Plessis, 31, is from Pretoria, South Africa, with a 23-2 record. He won the UFC middleweight title in 2024 by submitting Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and defended it against Sean Strickland at UFC 312 in February 2025 by unanimous decision. Undefeated in the UFC at 9-0, he’s beaten Robert Whittaker and Derek Brunson. He faces Chimaev at UFC 319 in Chicago.
Khamzat Chimaev, 31, is from Chechnya, Russia, and is undefeated at 14-0. Known for wrestling and knockouts, he defeated Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker, the latter by submission at UFC 308 in October 2024. His UFC record is 8-0, though health issues, like a COVID-19 setback in 2021, have limited his fights.
Reinier de Ridder, 34, is from the Netherlands with a 20-2 record. Joining the UFC from ONE Championship in 2024, he’s 4-0 with stoppage wins over Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and Bo Nickal. His split decision win over Whittaker at UFC Abu Dhabi in July 2025 ranks him number five in the division.
In May 2025, de Ridder predicted Du Plessis could finish Chimaev in later rounds at UFC 319, citing Du Plessis’s durability and high output. He suggested Du Plessis’s stamina could outlast Chimaev if the fight goes long.
In July 2025, de Ridder noted that Du Plessis’s unique style makes him tougher to prepare for than Chimaev, whose wrestling and boxing are more predictable. He expressed confidence in facing either but favored a Du Plessis win for a quicker title shot
