After KO loss, Reinier de Ridder says family is more important than fighting career

When a fighter suffers a devastating knockout like the one Reinier de Ridder went through last December, it certainly puts things into perspective. For the man known as ‘The Dutch Knight’, it allowed him to discover a newfound appreciation for life; especially for his family and what matters most.

In a recent interview with ONE Championship, the former ONE light heavyweight world champion and reigning middleweight king talked about what’s most important to him at this stage in his career.

The Breda, Netherlands, native said:

“I had always just thought about achievements, really. But to be honest, this is something that was on my mind in the last couple of years, but it gets less important as time goes on. It’s just if I can have a loving relationship with [my kids], that’s the most important thing. I can be there for them. I can spend time and spend energy with them, then that’s the most important thing.”

Make no mistake about it though. De Ridder is without a doubt one of the most talented mixed martial artists on the planet. But while he previously worked hard to leave his mark on the fighting world, ‘The Dutch Knight’ now fights to honor his children and give them a good life.

He continued:

“It does motivate me to make them proud, like in the long term. But to be honest, they don’t really care. They’re happy Daddy is there. And the only thing they know is Daddy trains a lot, and that’s kind of how far that goes.”

Reinier de Ridder returns to action at ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs Moraes III on Prime Video. He faces submission grappling prodigy Tye Ruotolo in a middleweight submission grappling contest.

The event broadcasts live from the 1stBank Center in Colorado on Friday, May 5th, and streams for free in the United States and Canada via Amazon Prime.