Derek Brunson is a tougher opponent than Israel Adesanya, says De Ridder

ONE Championship double champion Reinier De Ridder feels that Derek Brunson is a tougher opponent for him when compared to UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

De Ridder noted the same in his recent interview with SCMP MMA and also gave his take on the UFC Middleweight division.

“In the UFC, you have [Alex] Pereira is coming now, and he’s basically just a striker, an easy game. UFC Middleweight champion Israel] Adesanya is a pretty easy match, to be honest. Maybe Derek Brunson would be tougher. Robert Whittaker is definitely a tougher match than Pereira and Adesanya,” The Dutchman noted.

Currently undefeated in his professional MMA career, De Ridder is coming off a win over Vitaly Bigdash and has already mentioned that he plans to capture the ONE Heavyweight title.

Speaking further, De Ridder also weighed in his take on the UFC Light Heavyweight division.  

“I’m a little heavier today than I was, but I can put on 84 kilos (185 pounds) quite easily if I eat well, if I do the weight reduction right. That would be my natural weight. But Light Heavyweight is always an option. I’m always taller than these guys [Jiri] Prochazka, Jan [Blachowicz], so that would work too. These guys are also just forwards. Prochazka, he was overpowered in the grappling department last time around, sort of,” he noted.

When it came to the question of his third title, De Ridder added that ONE Championship is planning to make the Arjan Bhullar vs Anatoly Malykhin fight first.

“They’re into it, but not as much as me. They want to do guys first, [ONE Heavyweight champion Arjan] Bhullar and [Anatoly] Malykhin. I think they already have it in place. We are waiting to hear it be announced,” he added.

What do you think will happen if Reinier De Ridder competes against UFC fighters? Let us know in the comments below.

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