Newly crowned UFC middleweight champion Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) went after de Ridder (20-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) on Tuesday with posts on X directed at the contender, just days after beating Dricus Du Plessis in an all-time dominant title fight at UFC 319.

The main event of UFC Vancouver in October will pit Reinier de Ridder against Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez, potentially offering a clue to Khamzat Chimaev ’s first challenger for the middleweight title.

Dana White announced that Reinier de Ridder will face Anthony Hernandez on October 18, with the result of this matchup and the main event of UFC Paris next month being used to decide the next challenger. One of the four fighters in the running to challenge Chimaev has already started to have some thoughts about how he would prepare for such a task.

Reinier de Ridder recently called for a middleweight title shot against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 321. de Ridder has been on an impressive run

Reinier de Ridder recently reacted to Khamzat Chimaev vowing to make him look like a "white belt" in a potential fight.

UFC Middleweight Champion Khamzat Chimaev may have his next opponent as soon as October 18. The promotion's fall schedule is continuing to take shape, and Tuesd

UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev has made it crystal clear that he's interested in fighting Reinier de Ridder in his next fight.

Middleweight fight is going down in “Raincouver.” UFC CEO Dana White announced today that No. 5-ranked Reinier de Ridder will take on No. 6-ranked Anthony Hernandez in the main event of UFC Vancouver on Sat.