3 Reasons To Believe Why Reinier De Ridder Will Defeat Tye Ruotolo in the United States

This Friday at ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III, ONE Middleweight World Champion Reinier “The Dutch Knight” de Ridder will go toe-to-toe with Tye Ruotolo in a middleweight submission grappling tie. Both men, known for their wide array of submissions and relentless grappling game, will slug it out on the canvas at 1stBank Center in Denver, Colorado, on May 5.

For de Ridder, this match will give him a chance to prove why fans regard him as one of the best grapplers in MMA in modern-day history. Ahead of this key clash, here are three reasons why we believe the former two-division king can beat the fellow BJJ black belt on the promotion’s on-ground debut in the United States.

#1 His Ability To Dig Deep For Submissions

The Combat Brothers representative is one of the best grapplers and submission specialists in all of MMA. With 11 submission wins to his name in the all-encompassing sport, “The Dutch Knight” has followed a straightforward yet highly successful strategy in each of his appearances inside the ONE Circle: clinch, secure the takedown, and finish the fight on the mat.

Though things might not be as straightforward for the Dutchman against a man with a very sound acumen on the canvas, the grappling specialist does have tools at his disposal to hunt for a grand finish against Ruotolo.

#2 His Measureless Gas Tank

Even if De Ridder is unable to score the finish, he would certainly enjoy slugging the entire 12-minute round against Ruotolo on the canvas in Colorado. After all, de Ridder has showcased that he has enough in his tank to last a full 25-minute World Championship MMA bout. 

READ MORE – “I Have No Interest”: MMA Legend Demetrious Johnson Hints at Retirement From MMA After His Next Title Defense, Doesn’t Want to Fight for “Two More Years”

Although there would not be any intervals for him in this match, he understands how to pace himself well before plotting the next finishing sequence.

#3 His Height Advantage

When de Ridder enters the Circle at 1stBank Center, the 32-year-old middleweight athlete will hold a six-inch advantage over the 20-year-old American phenom. Although, being short has its own advantages too, “The Dutch Knight” should have the upper hand when trying to submit through joint locks and chokeholds.

READ MORE – 3 Reasons Why You Cannot Miss Demetrious Johnson-Adriano Moraes III at ONE Fight Night 10

If he can put his height and longer reach to good use, he should be able to execute techniques more swiftly. Besides, he will have more leverage, making it difficult for Ruotolo to escape once he gets the latter in a hold.