Reinier de Ridder announced himself as a threat at middleweight after beating Robert Whittaker.
UFC fans were split after de Ridder’s win over Whittaker narrowly on points to take his fifth place ranking in a gruelling five-round contest.
This win has now propelled him into title contention with Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev ready to battle it out for the middleweight title on August 16th.
Fans and pundits alike are split on who exactly will take home the title, but legend Tito Ortiz believes Chimaev beats Du Plessis.
Reinier de Ridder highlights one element of Dricus Du Plessis game which makes him ‘unpredictable’
Why those in the industry are split is clear to the 34-year-old Dutchman who has sparred the South African on a few occasions.
Speaking to ESPN MMA, Reinier explained: “If there’s one guy who’s hard to study, it’s him. He doesn’t do the same thing twice. He’s so awkward, so unpredictable.
“I need more time studying him.”
Chimaev is used to breaking down his opponents for quick finishes, but Dricus seems to be more of a puzzle that won’t go away over the five-round distance, which Khamzat will struggle with.
But there is one element of the champion’s game which really sticks out to the contender as his best weapon.
“He does a lot of awkward stuff, and I sparred him a couple of years ago at Kill Cliff, and what really stands out is the way he kicks,” he said.
“His kicks come from such a weird angle with the knees slightly in. It was very hard for me to judge where it was going to go – if it was going to be a middle, high, or low kick.
“So, it’s going to be very hard to find a guy to emulate him. There’s nobody else who moves like that.”
Dricus Du Plessis last three fights show where his strikes are the most effective
‘StillKnocks’ has fought two opponents in his last three fights in Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland.
His most effective areas of attack have been to the body and legs of both men.
Strickland was outlanded in both areas by more than three times, with 32 strikes landed to the body and 24 kicks connecting to the legs.
Only Adesanya was able to outland the middleweight star to the body with 29 strikes compared to seven, but fell short by over double when it came to leg attacks landed (22).
Not only is accuracy an incredible factor in his success; however, output also plays a huge part in his ability to win fights, with the rematch against the American seeing him throw six times the leg kick strikes of his opponent.
The ‘Wolf’ will have to neutralise the body work by taking him to the ground at the 319 card, although that is easier said than done.