Reinier de Ridder won't pace himself for five rounds in UFC on ABC 9 vs. Robert Whittaker

USA Today

4 days ago

ABU DHABI – Reinier de Ridder is curious to see if Robert Whittaker can keep up with his pace at UFC on ABC 9.
Despite former middleweight champion Whittaker (26-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC) being well known for his ability to compete over the course of a five-round fight, de Ridder (19-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) will be looking to flip the script when they meet in Saturday's headliner at Etihad Arena on Yas Island (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+).
Former two-division ONE Championship titleholder de Ridder hasn't needed more than 12 minutes to put away his first three octagon opponents in Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland and Bo Nickal. He got those wins with relentless pressure, and he said it's his only instinct to fight Whittaker the same way.
"Nah (I won't change my approach or pace) – I think that's just kind of what I do," de Ridder told MMA Junkie at Wednesday's UFC on ABC 9 media day. "See if I can get him tired, then the both of us might be tired in the last couple rounds."
De Ridder has the utmost confidence Whittaker will bend or fold under the pressure. The outside world doesn't seem to have as much faith, however, because he currently sits as the betting underdog going into fight night.
That's a familiar spot for de Ridder and one he relishes. The Dutchman has been the underdog each of his three UFC appearances thus far, and those all ended with the referee pulling his off his opponents inside the distance.
It's de Ridder's full expectation that this one ends the same way.
"They didn't get it right last time," de Ridder said. "And they got it wrong this time."