Imagine two powerhouse fighters, one undefeated and the other a reigning champion, clashing in a weight class neither truly calls home. It’s a matchup that sounds like pure fantasy, but could it actually happen? Reinier de Ridder, the Dutch MMA star headlining UFC Vancouver this weekend, recently weighed in on the potential showdown between Khamzat Chimaev and Alex Pereira. And let’s just say, his take is as bold as it is insightful.
De Ridder didn’t hold back when discussing Chimaev’s pursuit of Pereira. While he admitted the matchup is undeniably intriguing—especially the question of whether Chimaev could take Pereira down and control him—he’s skeptical it’ll ever materialize. “To be honest, my first thought was, ‘This is nonsense,’ but it’s a cool matchup,” de Ridder told Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie. “I just don’t see it happening anytime soon.” But here’s where it gets controversial: De Ridder hinted that Pereira’s rumored move to heavyweight could throw a wrench into Chimaev’s plans, effectively shelving the fight before it even begins.
Chimaev, the current UFC middleweight champion, has been on an unstoppable streak since joining the UFC, with an undefeated record in his MMA career. After dethroning Dricus du Plessis, he immediately set his sights on Pereira. Meanwhile, Pereira recently reclaimed the UFC light heavyweight title in a thrilling rematch against Magomed Ankalaev, proving once again why he’s a force to be reckoned with.
And this is the part most people miss: De Ridder isn’t just spectating—he’s gunning for his own title shot. The 35-year-old believes a win over Brendan Allen this weekend could set him up for a middleweight title fight as early as 2026. “If I put Brendan away, I’ll be fighting for the belt next year,” he confidently stated. With impressive wins over rising star Bo Nickal and former champion Robert Whittaker already under his belt, de Ridder is no underdog.
But let’s pause for a moment: Is de Ridder’s timeline realistic, or is he underestimating the competition? Chimaev, after all, isn’t known for making things easy for challengers. And Pereira’s potential move to heavyweight adds another layer of complexity. Could this be a case of too many variables spoiling the broth?
What’s your take? Do you think Chimaev vs. Pereira will ever happen, or is de Ridder right to be skeptical? And does de Ridder have what it takes to challenge for the middleweight title in 2026? Sound off in the comments—this is one debate you won’t want to miss!
