Reinier de Ridder says MMA must fix extreme weight cutting

Reinier de Ridder says MMA must address extreme weight cutting after brutal middleweight cuts left him depleted in back-to-back losses. The Dutch veteran moved to light heavyweight for UFC Sacramento on August 22, arguing fighters weigh in at 185 but fight near 210 pounds—and warning the sport needs reform before someone pays with their life.

Key Takeaways

• Reinier de Ridder blamed extreme weight cuts—not skill gaps—for losses to Brendan Allen and Caio Borralho after six middleweight fights in just over a year.
• He called the current system absurd: everyone makes 185 on the scale but enters the cage around 210 to 215 pounds.
• De Ridder debuts at 205 pounds against Roman Dolidze at UFC Sacramento and says he will never return to middleweight.
• He admits he has no perfect fix but believes something must change or a fighter could die.

Why did Reinier de Ridder leave middleweight?

After four straight UFC wins—including victories over Robert Whittaker and Bo Nickal—Reinier de Ridder kept accepting fights. He booked a fourth bout in 2025, but the pace backfired. Against Brendan Allen, his body shut down and his corner stopped the fight. He felt similarly drained losing to Caio Borralho next.

De Ridder told MMA Fighting that every middleweight cut felt like it had to be his last. Fight week was rough, but training camp was worse—extreme calorie limits made recovery between sessions nearly impossible.

He fought roughly six times in a little over a year at 185 pounds. He does not blame the UFC for the schedule; he chose the opportunities. Still, the toll pushed him to light heavyweight permanently.

What did de Ridder say about weight cutting in MMA?

De Ridder's frustration boiled over in blunt language. "Mentally, making weight comes first and then the fight is second, which is so wrong," he said. He argued an extreme cut might work twice a year for fighters who compete once or twice annually—but not at his former pace.

"Everybody makes 185. Everybody's at least 210 when they fight, maybe 215. What the f*ck are we doing?" he asked. Both fighters weigh in at 185, then enter the cage roughly 25 pounds heavier. He accepts a five- to ten-pound gap as normal; 25 pounds against elite opponents is a problem.

Under the current rules, fighters must cut or face larger opponents. De Ridder said he does not have a perfect solution, but something has to change—or somebody could pay with their life. The debate sits among the sport's strangest realities, a topic we often cover in our Bizarre World section.

Who is Reinier de Ridder fighting at UFC Sacramento?

De Ridder (21-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) faces Roman Dolidze (15-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) on the UFC Fight Night 285 main card Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Both men are moving up from middleweight. Dolidze lost recent 185-pound bouts to Anthony Hernandez and Christian Leroy Duncan before the jump.

De Ridder told MMA Junkie the matchup is "perfect" and gives him time to add mass afterward. FanDuel lists him as a -400 favorite, per MMA Mania. Analyst Andrew Richardson predicts de Ridder wins by decision, favoring his clinch offense and wrestling transitions over Dolidze's top-control jiu-jitsu.

Will de Ridder ever fight at 185 again?

Emphatically, no. When asked about returning to middleweight, de Ridder told MMA Fighting: "I'll say never … never a middleweight again." At 205 pounds, he reports better health, smoother training camps, and roughly 20 fewer pounds to cut.

He plans to stay active—activity helped him nearly reach title contention before the cuts broke him down. A strong finish against Dolidze could land a top-10 light heavyweight next. "There's a lot of opportunities at 205," he said. "Let's get to it."