Overview
- De Ridder says he is still not at full health, describing shortness of breath when climbing stairs weeks after UFC Vancouver.
- He reports bloodwork has flagged physical problems and says he is withholding specifics to avoid jeopardizing a potential rematch with Brendan Allen.
- The Dutch contender links his performance to overtraining and a difficult weight cut and says he may move to light heavyweight.
- Allen defeated de Ridder by TKO via corner stoppage in the Vancouver main event after stepping in on short notice when Anthony Hernandez withdrew.
- De Ridder plans a layoff with no target return, following a busy 2025 that included wins over Bo Nickal and Robert Whittaker.