Gilbert Durinho is a former UFC title challenger. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter/UFC
However Khamzat Shimaev be undefeated in 15 professional fights and have won the UFC middleweight belt (up to 83,9 kg) by dominating Dricus Du Plessis a month ago, no one came as close to defeating the Chechen as Gilbert Durinho in April 2022, still in the welterweight division (up to 77,1 kg). In this context, the Brazilian publicly chose an athlete capable of tarnishing 'Borz's' record for the first time.
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Ridder's Reinier occupies fourth place in the middleweight ranking. Photo: Instagram.
In an interview with 'Buiten De Kooi Podcast' last Sunday (14), the former challenger for the welterweight belt (up to 77,1 kg.) stated that his grappling skills Reinier DeRidder may be enough to beat Chimaev, in addition to citing a conversation with Alan Finfou, one of the Chechen's coaches.
"I believe that out of the entire division, he has the best chance. I always talk to Chimaev's jiu-jitsu coach and I asked him who would be the toughest fight (for Chimaev). I said I thought it would be the Reinier DeRidder And he agreed. He said he watches all of RDR's videos. I think he can win. I've trained with him before. He's very good, tall, and strong. I don't know how he's a middleweight; he's huge," said the Brazilian.
Gilbert Burns says Reinier DeRidder is the only guy who can beat Khamzat Shimaev
Burns explained that RDR's elite jiu-jitsu could be the key to stopping Khamzat, and even revealed that he spoke with Khamzat's own jiu-jitsu coach, who agreed that RDR is the one fighter who… pic.twitter.com/TxoRHtjM0i— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) September 15, 2025
At 35, Ridder's Reinier debuted in the Ultimate in November of last year, when he finished Gerald meerschaert in the third round. Since then, he has won three more in a row and achieved the biggest victory of his career by defeating Robert Whitakker by split decision in the main event of the UFC Abu Dhabi, in July of this year. To establish himself as one of the division's potential challengers, he will need beat Anthony Hernandez on October 18th.
Reinier De Ridder is undefeated in the UFC
Ridder's Reinier after victory in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction X/UFC
In addition to his recent success in the world's largest MMA organization, De Ridder landed on the Ultimate's radar after winning belts in two different weight classes at One Championship, Asia's premier event. In total, the jiu-jitsu and judo black belt has 21 victories as a professional athlete. He has only been defeated twice by Russia's Anatoly Malykhin.
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