Reinier de Ridder chokes out Kevin Holland in the UFC 311 opener

Reinier de Ridder made good on his pre-fight promises, submitting Kevin Holland in the first round to start the bout. UFC 311 PPV main card at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The former two-division ONE champion needed just 3:42 to secure a rear choke victory, silencing the doubters and announcing himself as a serious threat in the UFC’s middleweight division.

Masterclass grappling

From the opening bell, De Ridder’s game plan was obvious. The Dutch submission specialist relentlessly pressured the Netherlands, cutting against the cage and looking for opportunities to close the distance. Holland, known for his striking skill and unorthodox style, was unable to establish his rhythm against the aggressive catcher.

The turning point came in the opening moments of the first round when de Ridder secured an elimination that would prove to be the beginning of the end for the Netherlands. When he reached the ground, de Ridder’s world-class tackling skills were on full display. He quickly took Holland’s back and went to work on the submission.

Holland, to his credit, fought bravely to defend, but De Ridder’s pressure was relentless. With just over a minute left in the round, de Ridder locked in a choke. Despite Holland’s best efforts to escape, the pressure proved too much, and he was forced to tap out at 3:31 of the first round.

Reinier de Ridder wants his next top 5 opponent

The win not only validates de Ridder’s UFC debut win over Gerald Merchart, but also immediately establishes him as a serious contender in the 185-pound division. The Dutchman’s ability to so decisively dominate a veteran like Holland will undoubtedly attract the attention of the middleweight elite.

For Holland, this loss marks a significant setback in his UFC journey. Having entered the bout looking to bounce back from a recent loss, Holland now finds himself in a precarious position, having to regroup and rethink his approach in a highly competitive middleweight environment.

The performance not only earned De Ridder his second UFC win, but likely provided him with a performance bonus and a fast track to facing ranked opposition in his next outing. UFC matchmakers will undoubtedly be looking at potential matchups that could further test the Dutch fighter’s mettle against established UFC veterans.

As UFC 311 continues, de Ridder’s explosive victory will undoubtedly be one of the talking points of the night. With this victory, he not only solidified his place in the UFC, but also put the entire middleweight division on notice. The MMA world will be watching closely to see what’s next for this exciting new competitor who turned a main card opener into a career-defining moment.

As the event builds toward championship bouts featuring Islam Makhachov vs. Renat Moykan and Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, de Ridder’s performance set the bar high for the rest of the card. The Dutch submission artist made it clear that he’s not here to just participate – he’s here to dominate and climb to the top of the UFC’s middleweight mountain.