ONE Middleweight MMA World Champion Reinier de Ridder is living a life that most people can only dream of.

Apart from getting to showcase his talents on a global stage, the Dutchman is a part-owner of a gym together with his coach, training partner, and close friend, Harun Ozkan.

Reinier de Ridder talks about owning a gym

“The Dutch Knight” is busy making final preparations to defend the ONE Middleweight MMA World Title in a rematch with Russian powerhouse Anatoly Malykhin at ONE 166: Qatar on Friday, March 1. But he took time out to discuss how running a training facility has been his refuge through the ups and downs of his career.

“Me and my brother, my buddy, we’ve been doing this together for so long. We’ve always shared blood, sweat, and tears on the mats. He helps me through all of my fights, so that’s where it started,” De Ridder said.

Combat Brothers is a growing home for students from a variety of backgrounds and expertise – from regular office workers to elite professional fighters. De Ridder puts in the work to hone his craft there, and he also likes to share his knowledge with anyone who walks through the doors, which gives him a different boost of energy.

“I don’t get the chance to teach every day because it’s a lot of work. But I teach a couple days a week, and it’s always very fulfilling to see that normal people, not people who make a living out of this, who devote their life to fighting, but normal people who are lawyers, or they have a normal job, a normal life,” he shared.

“They come in, and they try to kill each other on the mats. It’s all very cool to me. It gives me a lot of energy to see them when they go at it.”

Also Read: “I Just Can’t Wait to Give Him a Beating” – Jonathan Haggerty Plans to Finally Settle the Score With Felipe Lobo at ONE Fight Night 19

“The Dutch Knight” explains his reason for owning a gym

For many, juggling the responsibilities of operating a gym and actively competing against the best talents on the planet would prove too much to handle. But De Ridder likes it because it allows him to work on his passion from all different angles.

“It wasn’t ever too challenging, to be honest. All the people who teach for us are good friends who’ve been with us for years prior. Me and my buddy will always figure it out together. It’s never been about money. It’s just a thing we love,” he said.

“We would be on the mats every day, and we would host the gym like this every day even if we wouldn’t be making money there. It’s just something we love.”

How do you think that Reiner de Ridder would fare against Anatoly Malykhin at ONE 166? Do you think that he will retain his ONE MMA middleweight champion? Let us know how you think the fight will play out in the comments section below.

Also Read:  ONE 165 Full Results: Six Fighters Handed $50,000 in Bonus as Superlek Edges Takeru in 5 Round War