Reinier de Ridder, a former two-division ONE champion, admitted to doubting his fighting future following severe health complications after his loss at UFC Vancouver. The fighter experienced anemia and exhaustion that lingered for weeks, impacting his training and daily activities. Despite the setback, de Ridder's health has recovered, and he is set to return at UFC 326.
Reinier de Ridder's promising run in the UFC came to a halt in October at UFC Vancouver, where he was stopped by Brendan Allen. Prior to that, de Ridder had signed with the UFC in 2024 and secured victories in his first four bouts, including a notable win over former champion Robert Whittaker. However, the intense schedule of five fights in 11 months took a toll on his body.
Post-fight medical evaluations revealed severe issues. "Just on all levels, my bloodwork, everything was in the trash," de Ridder said during UFC 326 Media Day. "Everything was bad. But mostly standing out, severe anemia, very, very low red blood cell count. Just worked my body to shit, basically."
The complications extended beyond the octagon. De Ridder struggled for weeks, unable to complete training sessions or even climb stairs without fatigue. "There was a little while there thinking, ‘I might never fix this stuff. It might be over,’" he recounted. Identifying the problem provided some relief, but recovery involved extensive treatment and time to rebuild his strength.
Reflecting on his decision to fight despite knowing his condition, de Ridder acknowledged the risk. "With the opportunity there, most likely I make the same dumb decision to fight again, because it was too cool," he said. "I was on such a roll. I knew my body wasn’t there, but I just thought if I could get him out of there in the first round — and I was close — then we wouldn’t be talking about my health right now."
Fortunately, de Ridder's health problems have been resolved. He is scheduled to face Caio Borralho in the co-main event of UFC 326 in Las Vegas this weekend.