Reinier de Ridder has announced his intention to leave the middleweight division and compete at light heavyweight following a unanimous decision loss to Caio Borralho at UFC 326. The 35-year-old Dutch fighter shared the news in a lighthearted Instagram video with his training team. De Ridder, a former two-division ONE Championship champion, cited recovery from previous setbacks as a factor in his decision.
Reinier de Ridder suffered his second consecutive UFC loss on March 7, 2026, at UFC 326, held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In the co-main event, he faced Caio Borralho and dropped a unanimous decision after three rounds. This defeat followed a corner stoppage retirement against Brendan Allen in the main event of UFC Vancouver in 2025, marking de Ridder's first UFC loss after an initial run of four victories since joining the promotion in 2024. Those wins included a notable victory over former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker.
De Ridder, with a professional record of 21-4 and ranked No. 8 in the middleweight division, addressed the loss and his future plans in an Instagram video posted on March 11, 2026. Speaking to his teammates while distributing donuts, he said, “I came up a little short. I think it could have gone either way but I’m happy that I got my body back most importantly. I was able to go three hard rounds. I think I have a lot more to show. I brought you guys donuts because I need you guys heavy, I need you guys strong because I’m coming at 205 [pounds], baby.”
Prior to UFC 326, de Ridder had hinted at a potential move to 205 pounds but confirmed the change after the loss. His experience at light heavyweight dates back to his time in ONE Championship, where 205 pounds served as the middleweight division to reduce extreme weight cutting. He held the ONE middleweight title at that weight and later competed at a higher light heavyweight class there.
The UFC light heavyweight division is in transition, with the title vacant after Alex Pereira's move to heavyweight. Jiří Procházka and Carlos Ulberg are set to fight for the belt in the main event of UFC 327 on April 11, 2026. De Ridder's shift to the division, described as thinner than middleweight, positions him for new opportunities despite his recent losses.
