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The National
5 days ago
- Sport
- The National
'Abu Dhabi will always be very special to me': Reinier de Ridder looks to come full circle at UFC Fight Night
It's been a whirlwind 12 months for Reinier de Ridder, one he hopes will come full circle in Abu Dhabi this Saturday when he meets former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the main event at UFC Fight Night. The 34-year-old Dutchman is one of the rising stars in UFC, recording wins over Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland and Bo Nickal, all without going the distance, since being handed a contract with the world's lead mixed martial arts promotion last July. De Ridder gained that contract shortly after appearing at UAE Warriors 51, where he stopped Russian Magomedmurad Khasae with a first-round TKO. It followed a highly publicised falling out with One Championship, an organisation where he was a double world champion, leading to a period of inactivity. 'I was in a bad situation at the One Championship. My career was pretty much on the slump. I couldn't get a fight for over a year in 2023 since my first defeat,' De Ridder told The National during his visit to Palms Sports headquarters in Abu Dhabi. 'I was pushed aside and wasn't allowed to appear in fights in different promotions. They were trying to block me from getting fights anywhere.' The fallout began following his first career defeat to Russian Anatoly Malykhin in a middleweight title fight in December 2022. He faced the same opponent and suffered the same fate in a light heavyweight contest in March last year, losing both his One Championship titles. Though he doesn't go into detail, De Ridder credits the intervention of Ali Abdelaziz, manager of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Fouad Darwish, CEO of Palms Sports, the management company of the UAE Warriors, for helping him to settle his legal dispute with One Championship, clearing him to fight for rival promotions. 'Thanks to Fouad, thanks to Ali, I was able to get the fight [in UAE Warriors] and despite all the stress of dealing with lawyers, I was able to finish the guy in the first round,' De Ridder said. 'I was lucky there and that led to me signing a contract with UFC a couple of months later." De Ridder, who has 20 career wins against those two losses to Malykhin, will now get the chance to strengthen his credentials for a shot at middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis when he takes on Australian Whittaker at the Etihad Arena. 'It has been a crazy year. Now I'm fighting for the fifth time in 12 months. I'm lucky because I came out of these fights without being tested and without any serious injuries. 'Against Whittaker, it's a big night for me. He's a former champion in the promotion and he's experienced and travelled the world. But I have been training like mad and prepared to take him on.' Since his move to the UFC, De Ridder has trained at the Kill Cliff Fight Club in Florida. 'It's just been great camp after great camp for me, preparing for the UFC fights. It's been very big amount of work being put in. It's been a big toll on my body and whatever, but I'm feeling great. 'I'm stronger than ever. I feel very sharp and I feel that it's not just this last camp that I've done, but it's all the work I've done before. 'It's a combination of 15 years of training MMA, 15 years of judo and jiu-jitsu training before. So my entire life on the mat is leading to another big fight here.' De Ridder has left no stone unturned in his preparation for Whittaker, who has shared a stage with the likes of Yoel Romero, Israel Adesanya and Khamzat Chimaev. 'I trained with a lot of guys who have been able to mimic Whittaker because he has a very peculiar style with the karate stance and blitzing. I've been able to prepare very well for it, I believe. So yeah, the camp is, we're kind of finishing up the last week and a half here [in Abu Dhabi]. 'We're not doing too much crazy stuff anymore. We're not going too hard or too deep, but still training, still putting a lot of work into training. I think I'm ready to go next week.' De Ridder's affinity with Abu Dhabi runs deep. It was in the UAE capital the Dutchman, a blackbelt in both judo and jiu-jitsu, collected his first pay cheque, winning gold in blue belt at the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship in 2014. 'Abu Dhabi will always be very special to me because it's where I first earned a pay cheque from the sport,' he said. 'I was 21 and was a blue belt in jiu-jitsu. I was just getting into the sport a little bit and didn't have the money to travel. Then I came to know there was a qualifier in London from which the winner will earn an all-expenses paid entry for the World Pro in Abu Dhabi. I won and qualified. I won gold and they handed me an envelope with cash. That was thrilling and it was the first time I got paid in the sport.' Abu Dhabi also provided him the opportunity to fight outside the One Championship that eventually paved the way for him to compete in the UFC. 'Looking back a year ago, my career was in a slump and I was thinking this might be it for my MMA career. But these guys really helped me to turn it all around, and I'm forever grateful to Ali and Fouad. 'For me, it's very important to just be in the moment and take whatever life gives me. If you have the chance, grab it and go for it with 100 per cent of your energy and effort. 'I think everything will come together very nicely and hopefully I can keep the ball rolling. 'It's crazy how life can come together at a moment like that. If I would have cracked under the pressure of the lawyers and whatever, or if one of the people here didn't give me this break, I would have had a very different last year. 'So it's crazy how these small important moments in your life can change so much.'
The Sun
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘Don't want to empty myself out' – Dustin Poirier reveals heartfelt fears which prompted UFC 318 retirement
DUSTIN POIRIER insists he's content with his decision to retire from mixed martial arts, That's despite still being very much at the peak of his powers. 14 14 14 14 The bona fide Hall of Famer's career will come to an emotional and poetic end early on Sunday morning in the main event of UFC 318 in New Orleans. Unlike many before him, the 36-year-old's hanging up of the gloves hasn't been prompted by the regression of his skillset or the absorption of unnecessary punishment. In his last two fights with Islam Makhachev and Benoit Saint Denis, the Lafayette, Louisiana leftie has shown that he can still mix it with the very best the lightweight division has to offer. But he's determined to walk away from the sport which has brought him fame and fortune on his terms and, more importantly, while he still has all his faculties intact. In an exclusive interview with SunSport, he said: "I've been fighting since I was 17 years old, so making this decision is tough. "But the decision was made because, you know, I have over 50 fights. "My wife's pregnant, I have a little girl at home. I've said this over and over again, 'I don't want this sport to retire me. "'I want to walk away from this sport.' And if that's putting only great performances and fighting and beating the best guys in the world, that's the way I want it to be. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 14 14 14 "I want to go out on top with stuff still left in the tank. "I don't want to empty myself out and leave this game broken and bruised for a paycheck. "It's just time. I just feel like it's time, you know. I've done a lot in the sport. "And I want to be healthy and be with my family. I've been doing this for a very long time." Poirier's eagerness not to have the sport retire him is wise, given the worrying effects of traumatic brain injuries we're starting to see in some of the greats of yesteryear. The temptation to continue fighting and pursue undisputed UFC gold, the only thing which has eluded him in his run in the promotion, has been strong. Even just this week, the little devil on his left shoulder was telling him to go full 'Wolf of Wall Street' and roar: "I'm not f * ****g leaving!" He admitted: "There are moments like when I'm driving to the gym and stuff that reality sets in. "And [I'm like], 'I can't believe this is the last time I'm ever gonna do this. But my decision has been made." Poirier will likely go down as the greatest fighter to never have an undisputed UFC title wrapped around his waist. 14 14 14 Winning one of his three cracks at the lightweight title would've undoubtedly further cemented what is an already historic career. But those losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov, Charles Oliveira and Makhachev won't eat away at him as much as you'd think. "I'm grateful for everything," he said. "All the lessons I've learned and the accomplishments I've had throughout the sport. "I had a good run, I really did. And I'm proud of it." MMA retirements are often looked at with a side-eye due to the sheer number of fighters who have performed U-turns or entered the world of boxing. But with mental and physical well-being now being his top priority, Poirier insists neither will end up being the case for him. He said: "I'm still going to be in the gym, so we'll see about grappling. "If something fun came along, maybe I would do a grappling match or something like that in the future. "But [as far as] combat sports, I'm gonna protect my brain and try to age as healthy as I can after post-fighting." 14 14 14 Countless pugilists and mixed martial artists have publicly struggled with life after fighting, with many openly admitting they've suffered identity crises. Unlike many before him, Poirier has financial interests outside of fighting to keep himself busy. Although he admits: "I don't think anything's ever gonna fill that void of what fighting was throughout my career. "So that could be a little bit of struggle to be at war with something so deeply the way I've been with combat sports." The honour of being Poirier's last dance partner, fittingly, goes to a man he welcomed to the UFC 13 years ago - former featherweight champion Max Holloway. Poirier is 2-0 in his series with the Hawaiian, who was his dance partner when he claimed interim lightweight gold at UFC 236 in April 2019. That fight was a war for the ages, something Poirier believes will be the case when they collide again in their Bayou brawl this weekend. "I feel like it's gonna be a lot like the last one," he said when asked how he foresees his swansong playing out. "Back and forth on the feet, but just at a higher level and a higher IQ. "It's going to be a battle, you know. It's gonna be a battle like the second one, I'm sure." 14
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MMA legends to collide in 'real' boxing match
This September, boxing fans around the world will get to see two mixed martial arts legends exchange gloves when Vitor Belfort battles Wanderlei Silva. Set for Spaten Fight Night on September 27 from Sao Paulo, Brazil, the two will meet in the main event. According to MMA Fighting, the rules have been set. MORE: UFC 318 ticket prices for Holloway vs. Poirier 3 They include both fighters wearing 12 ounce gloves with eight rounds scheduled. The rounds will be two minutes each and the fight will be held at 20 5pounds. "The Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva rivalry is one of the biggest in the martial arts world," Spaten marketing director Cinthia Klumpp said. "A rematch that has never happened, so we decided to make it real in the second edition of Spaten Fight Night." Spaten Fight Night hosted Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen in the headline bout of the first event. That exhibition ended with no winner being declared. The first Belfort vs. Silva match took place all the way back in 1998 at UFC Brazil when Belfort scored a 44-second finish. The two have been scheduled several times to meet again, but the fight has never happened. MORE COMBAT SPORTS NEWS: PFL Hollywood to host pair of tournament finales Special guest to walk Dustin Poirier to UFC 318 Octagon UFC heavyweight scores convincing win, puts on a show PFL Charlotte to feature three title fights
CBC
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
From the octagon to the stage: Former UFC champion Georges St-Pierre ready to share his story
Former UFC champion Georges St-Pierre wants to share his story. From being bullied as a child to holding down three jobs while going to college. And the stress and challenges he faced in his rise to being a two-division mixed martial arts champion. The 44-year-old St-Pierre, a native of Saint-Isidore, Que., who is a member of both the Canada Sports Hall of Fame and UFC Hall of Fame, will debut "GSP: The Instinct of a Champion" at Toronto's Meridian Hall on Sept. 29 with other Canadian dates to follow in 2026. The hope is to then take the show to the U.S. and other countries. St-Pierre is no stranger to speaking publicly, having made plenty of speeches to corporate and other gatherings. The speaking tour will take the form of a live interview, followed by an audience Q-and-A. "I will explain how I deal with fear, with stress. Background stories. Different protocol and tricks that I used throughout my career," St-Pierre said from Thailand where he currently filming a reality show to air next year on Netflix. WATCH | Georges St-Pierre calls Order of Canada his 'greatest honour': Georges St-Pierre calls Order of Canada his 'greatest honour' 7 days ago Duration 2:04 The former UFC star's recent appointment was in recognition of his anti-bullying and sports promotion work among young people. He believes the September show will work for both fans and those who hope to learn something that they can apply to their own lives. "A lot of what I do is always oriented towards the art of war — in terms of performance, how to be the best. And to be able to reach the top," he explained. St-Pierre officially retired in February 2019 with a 26-2-0 record, having won the middleweight title in his last fight at UFC 217 in November 2017. He previously was the longtime welterweight champion. Sharing his story was difficult at first, he acknowledges. "Now time has passed and I can talk about a lot of things in my life that I was not so comfortable to talk about when I was younger," he said. "Things like my dad when he was drinking and how it would affect me. Because when he quit drinking, he became my No. 1 inspiration. I saw how hard it was [for him]. "So everything started negative in the beginning but then later it became a positive thing, because it became an inspiration for me. When he made that sacrifice [forgoing alcohol], it really reunited my family and it bound us back together. It's something that had a huge impact on my life … I feel very lucky and very privileged to have a great role model." St-Pierre comes from humble beginnings on Montreal's South Shore. His father spent more than 60 hours a week on a floor-recovering business, installing carpet and ceramics. His mother nursed the elderly. St-Pierre earned his own floor-recovering certificate before making it big in MMA. Tony Gattillo, the Montreal-based producer of the show, believes St-Pierre's story can serve as inspiration. "I think people will leave the show very motivated and will want to apply certain things that Georges is going to share … for the first time. And motivate the people," said Gattillo, a former singer now working behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. "And help them realize that if you want to be a champion in your life or you want to reach a certain goal, there is hard work to do. There's dedication. There's discipline. And mental toughness." When St-Pierre entered the modern wing of the UFC Hall of Fame in 2020, he was one of seven UFC fighters to win a title in two weight classes. He retired on a 13-fight win streak with a record that included 13 title fight victories, the second most in UFC history, and boasted the most strikes landed (2,591), most significant ground strikes landed (461) and most takedowns (90).
Times of Oman
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Times of Oman
UFC Brings World-Class MMA To Qatar in Historic 'UFC Fight Night' Debut in Doha on November 22
UFC®, the world's leading mixed martial arts organisation, brings the Octagon® to Qatar for the first time in partnership with Visit Qatar on Saturday, November 22. This action-packed Fight Night at Doha's state-of-the-art ABHA Arena marks a milestone moment for regional fans and UFC®'s global rise. Fans are encouraged to register their interest via to have the best chance of securing tickets early. Set for November 22, the unforgettable debut of UFC® FIGHT NIGHT DOHA will deliver a stacked lineup of thrilling bouts, spotlighting the best in combat sports and live entertainment. Marking a major milestone in UFC®'s regional expansion, the event brings the electrifying energy of a blockbuster showdown to fans in Doha and across the Middle East. Known for hosting world-class sporting events, Qatar adds another milestone with the debut of UFC® FIGHT NIGHT DOHA. This event contributes to Qatar's goal of becoming a leading global destination for sport. Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar said: 'This collaboration marks a significant step that reflects our continued commitment to positioning Qatar as a leading global destination for major sporting events. The event forms part of a vibrant season of major activities, supported by ongoing infrastructure development and notable growth in the events and conferences sector. The inclusion of UFC®, with its fanbase of over 700 million worldwide, underscores this strategic direction and offers a unique platform to showcase Qatar's sporting excellence and cultural richness. We look forward to welcoming the UFC® community to Doha this November for an exceptional experience that highlights our capabilities and strengthens our international partnerships.' Dana White, UFC® President and CEO, commented: "I've always said we're going to take UFC® all over the world—and Qatar is the next stop. They already hosted the World Cup and Formula 1, and now we're bringing a UFC® Fight Night there for the first time. Our fights in the Middle East are always incredible so I can't wait to get out there.' With a soon-to-be-announced fight card, the highly anticipated inaugural UFC® FIGHT NIGHT DOHA will see some of UFC®'s most talented athletes enter the Octagon® for a must-see event for both longtime and new UFC® fans in the region.
