On May 3, Reinier de Ridder will try to put an end to the undefeated series Bo Nickal and he has many people who are deteriorating it for the fighting evening.
In the Co-Main event on Saturday evening in Des Moines, 'The Dutch Knight' will return to the Octagon for the third time since debuting with the promotion last November.
De Ridder has shown his entry skills both before and after he has signed at the UFC, but his next test will see him take a decorated wrestler who also needs to be defeated in the 185-pound division of the promotion.
Although Nickal has a number of impressive finishes under his belt, the 29-year-old has been a divided figure since his debut in March 2023.
His overwhelming fight with Paul Craig on UFC 309 did not help and it now seems that many fight fans are pulling the knight in this large middleweight matchup.
Reinier de Ridder says that support has come from 'every part of the world' with fans who are rooting against Bo Nickal
In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Reinier de Ridder was asked if he received many messages before 3 May from fans who want to see him beat Bo Nickal.
The triple NCAA Division I National Champion would undoubtedly be the target of a sporting rivalry among the Iowa fans as a former representative of Pennsylvania State University.
De Ridder, however, explained that many of the messages from much further away are because he was surprised to see how many people hope he can set up the American in the Moines.
The former two -weight title holder in one championship theoretized that the potential of Nickal and the way he was pushed could have something to do with it.
“I get that from every part of the world at the moment. I don't know why, perhaps because he is such a prospect or something, but people don't seem to like him so much, but it is what it is.
“At Kill Cliff there are many Iowa boys who came here from the wrestling program, so they really told me:” Go get this guy, “” “”
De Ridder also revealed the reason that many fans gave him when explaining why they don't like Nickal, and stated that it is more a general atmosphere than a specific reason.
“People just say:” He rubs me in the wrong direction. “I don't know … I have to be something like that, but he deserves it, he does what he can and he has won every fight.
Reinier de Ridder is confronted with a problem that could force him out of his comfort zone at UFC des Moines
It is no secret that both Reinier De Ridder and Bo Nickal do their best work when the fight hits the floor, but that may mean that they will eventually cancel each other.
Although the American may have the struggling capacity to bring down his opponent if he wants, you play a dangerous game when you go against the Submission specialist.
For both men that means trusting their striking to get the job done and this has been a small problem for 'RDR' in the past.
The only two losses on the Ridder's record came against Anatoly Malykhin in one championship after he couldn't downen the Russian powerhouse.
It is worth noting that Malykhin is a much larger man than Nickal who has also participated in heavyweight, so this may not be that much factor on 3 May.