Overview
- Reinier de Ridder defeated Roman Dolidze by TKO (punches) at 4:01 of Round 1 on Saturday, Aug. 22, at UFC Fight Night 285 in Sacramento.
- De Ridder dominated from top position, using sustained ground-and-pound to force referee Frank Trigg to repeatedly warn Dolidze before stopping the bout.
- Dolidze repeatedly pulled guard and hunted leg locks that failed to produce an escape or submission, a game plan that left him exposed to strikes and drew criticism after the fight.
- The finish is de Ridder’s first UFC win at light heavyweight, ends a two-fight losing streak and follows his public push to stop hard middleweight cuts.
- The result gives de Ridder momentum to climb the 205-pound ranks and raises questions about Dolidze’s future strategy and standing in the division.