Reinier de Ridder out to redeem himself and is "fully focused on setting things straight"

For the majority of Reinier de Ridder’s career to date, winning was all he knew. Going 16-0 and winning two world championships in the process, ‘The Dutch Knight’ was simply untouchable.

That was up until ONE on Prime Video 5, where he faced undefeated interim heavyweight world champion Anatoly Malykhin. The Russian behemoth steamrolled right through the light heavyweight world champion, handing him his first loss in devastating fashion.

Months later, de Ridder is on the comeback trail.

After taking some time to deal with the loss and learn some lessons from it, Reinier de Ridder is ready to return to competition with even more focus and determination than before.

In a recent interview with the promotion, the Dutchman said:

“[Getting back to winning ways] is the most important thing. I got redemption on my mind. I’m fully focused on setting things straight.”

In his first appearance back inside the circle, de Ridder will face off with Tye Ruotolo in a submission grappling match. He plans to return to MMA in the near future, adding:

“This is my year, man. I’m setting everything straight. I’m starting with a grappling match and some MMA fights to cap it off.”

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Reinier de Ridder all praise for Danaher Death Squad after training with them

At ONE Fight Night 10 on May 5, middleweight world champion Reinier de Ridder will return to the circle after suffering his first defeat in MMA.

Before he returns to the middleweight division where he has been totally dominant, the Dutchman’s next contest under the ONE banner will be a submission grappling contest on the promotion’s first event in the United States.

Taking on one of the world’s best grapplers in Tye Ruotolo, ‘The Dutch Knight’ has been preparing for this contest by mixing it up with the finest competitors on the planet.

Reinier de Ridder has been on the mats with the Danaher Death Squad in Austin, Texas. Headed up by jiu-jitsu mastermind John Danaher, his team has dominated no-gi competition for the best part of a decade.

With the likes of Gordon Ryan and his brother Nicky, Craig Jones, and Garry Tonon regularly featuring on the mats, there is simply no better place in the world to prepare yourself for an opponent like Tye Ruotolo.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post, de Ridder said:

“Definitely, they’re on the top of the heap right now,” de Ridder said. “There’s a thing. Grappling for MMA is just different from grappling for grappling.”

Watch the full interview below: