The UFC has made one of its most notable free agency signings in recent memory with the addition of former two-division ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder to its roster.
MMA Junkie verified with a person close to the situation on Tuesday that de Ridder (17-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has inked a multi-fight contract with the UFC. The person requested anonymity because the organization has yet to make an initial announcement. The news first surfaced through UFC Roster Tracker on X.
De Ridder, 34, previously held the ONE Championship middleweight and light heavyweight titles. He fought nine times under the ONE banner, winning his first seven bouts before losing both his titles to Anatoly Malykhin in back-to-back fights.
The Dutchman most recently competed under for UAE Warriors in July, scoring a first-round TKO to snap his losing skid and set up his entry into the UFC.
De Ridder’s octagon debut will take place at 185 pounds, a person with knowledge of the situation told MMA Junkie. The location and opponent have not been revealed at this time.
