Reinier de Ridder picked up the most important win of his profession on Saturday after beating former champion Robert Whittaker within the UFC Abu Dhabi important occasion, however he didn’t escape criticism from one other veteran middleweight.
Simply moments after having his hand raised in a split-decision victory to maneuver to 4-0 within the UFC, de Ridder was subjected to a message from Paulo Costa, who’s simply days faraway from his determination win over Roman Kopylov at UFC 318. Costa, who received again on monitor after shedding two in a row, clearly gained some confidence together with his success as he took intention at de Ridder for his efficiency.
“With all due respect, I might knock out de Ridder three [times each] spherical,” Costa wrote on Twitter. “All that mentioned congrats on your win at the moment, regardless of dangerous struggle.”
With all due respect, I might knock out de Ridder 3 x wich spherical. All that mentioned congrats on your win at the moment , regardless of dangerous struggle.
— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) July 26, 2025
Now Costa’s knockout prediction may appear a bit of odd contemplating he hasn’t completed an opponent since 2018 however that’s neither right here nor there.
Clearly it didn’t hassle de Ridder an excessive amount of, particularly after he was reminded that Costa misplaced a unanimous determination to Whittaker after they clashed again in 2024.
“There’s at all times a hater on the market,” de Ridder mentioned when requested about Costa’s feedback. “Did Paulo Costa by no means struggle Whittaker? What occurred?”
A giant smile crept throughout de Ridder’s face as he was reminded of Costa’s end in his personal struggle in opposition to Whittaker.
So far as what truly unfolded on Saturday, de Ridder felt assured in his victory after two judges gave him the struggle with 48-47 scorecards over Whittaker.
“I’ve received to look at this again. At the least the final two rounds, proper? Possibly the second as properly,” de Ridder mentioned about which rounds he gained. “I received on high a few instances. I harm him a few instances with the knee however this man is a troublesome man. He was exhausting to place away. He did wonderful. I feel I mentioned it a few instances already however the most effective Rob’s I’ve seen in years. He was so calm, collected, very explosive. It was exhausting work this time.
“I used to be stunned one decide scored it utterly improper. I believed I had three rounds not less than. However it’s what it’s. I hoped to complete him, and I didn’t so that you by no means know what the judges make of it. I’ll make sure to end the following man once more.”
Whereas it’s fairly clear that Costa is nowhere on his radar after taking out Whittaker at UFC Abu Dhabi, de Ridder can solely maintain out hope that maybe a title shot is ready him sooner or later.
The middleweight belt goes up for grabs at UFC 319 when reigning champion Dricus du Plessis faces Khamzat Chimaev in the primary occasion. A month later, Nassourdine Imavov seems to construct off his knockout win over Israel Adesanya when he faces Caio Borralho within the UFC Paris headliner.
Together with his personal win over Whittaker on Saturday, de Ridder believes he’s in a very good place however he can’t say for positive what’s subsequent till the whole lot else performs out first.
“We’ll see what occurs,” de Ridder mentioned. “There’s rather a lot occurring within the middleweight division within the subsequent couple of weeks. As you mentioned, I’m a high 5 fighter on this planet. That’s loopy. Who can say that? In a single 12 months and I feel I’ve a very good probability preventing for a title sometime quickly. We’ll see.
“Hopefully [I’ll fight for the title], we’ll see what occurs. There’s loads of stuff occurring within the middleweight division developing within the subsequent few months. I’m a high 5 fighter on this planet. I need to show that I’m the most effective. I need to get again within the fitness center, work on all of the stuff that occurred on this struggle. However first, I want some leisure for a few weeks I feel.”
