Ali Abdelaziz, manager of Reinier de Ridder, said that current UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev does not plan to defend his title in 2025.
Ali Abdelaziz for Submission Radio
I talked to the UFC. If Khamzat would have fought in October, it would have been Reinier de Ridder fighting Khamzat. But Khamzat said, you know, he is gonna fight next year. They offered ‘Fluffy’. De Ridder said, ‘You know what, I am not gonna wait?’ … He takes this fight and now he is gonna fight a very tough fight.
Chimaev last fought Dricus du Plessis on August 17 in the main event of UFC 319 in Chicago. He won that bout by unanimous decision and captured the UFC middleweight title. His professional record stands at 15 wins and no losses.
De Ridder will face Anthony Hernandez on October 18 at UFC Fight Night 262 in Vancouver. In July this year de Ridder defeated Robert Whittaker by split decision. His record is 21 wins and two losses.
