Reinier de Ridder began his career flawlessly with a 16-0 record, which led him to believe he would always be the dominant force in his fights.
De Ridder’s impressive track record in ONE Championship’s two divisions, with seven consecutive wins, five finishes, and two titles, made him confident as he prepared to face Anatoly Malihin for the light heavyweight title.
However, De Ridder’s arrogance was swiftly punished when Malihin landed decisive punches that resulted in a first-round knockout.
Reflecting on his defeat, de Ridder admitted that he underestimated his opponent.
Considering his undefeated streak and previous successes, de Ridder acknowledged that he had grown complacent in his approach to fights. He realized his error after the loss and made efforts to address his shortcomings.
Drawing a comparison, UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones spoke about his pivotal lesson during the fight with Alexander Gustafsson in 2013, emphasizing the importance of not underestimating opponents and maintaining full dedication during preparations.
De Ridder acknowledged the need to learn from his loss and adopt a more focused and respectful attitude towards his opponents, similar to Jones’ approach.
In his upcoming rematch against Malihin at ONE 166, which will be broadcast on Prime Video, de Ridder aims to rectify his previous mistakes and emerge victorious.
Expressing his determination to overcome his setback, de Ridder expressed optimism about the future and his ability to bounce back stronger.
Admitting his error in underestimating Malihin, de Ridder highlighted the importance of maintaining a high level of commitment and focus in his pursuit of victory.
If De Ridder successfully defends his ONE middleweight title, he will equalize the series with Malihin with one win each, potentially setting up a trilogy fight.
Although Malihin holds both the ONE Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight titles, de Ridder is solely focused on winning the rematch and avoiding any distractions.
De Ridder is determined to defeat Malihin in their upcoming rematch and is looking forward to putting this chapter behind him.
Reflecting on his future plans, de Ridder emphasized his commitment to defeating Malihin and moving past this rivalry.
De Ridder is dedicated to emerging victorious on March 1st and is resolute in his decision to not entertain any mention of Malihin beyond that date.
