Keen to keep the momentum, he took on Bo Nickal in Des Moines, Iowa, halting the hype train and handing Nickal his first professional loss courtesy of a brutal knee to the body in the second round. While that fight got some people’s attention, his real breakout came when he faced former champion Robert Whittaker in a main event in Abu Dhabi. Despite Whittaker rocking de Ridder badly, the Dutchman recovered and took the fight over with his exhausting physicality and quirky knees to Whittaker’s body. Ultimately, the adjustments were enough to secure a split decision win over the Aussie and launch himself into the championship picture.
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Seemingly just a win away from a title shot, he accepted a bout against Hernandez in Vancouver, and when Hernandez pulled out due to injury, he accepted a short-notice replacement in Brendan Allen. However, his pedal-to-the-medal schedule caught up with him, and in his fifth trip to the Octagon in 11 months (and seventh in 19 months), de Ridder wore down to “All In.” After the fourth round, de Ridder was unable to answer the bell, suffering his first loss in the Octagon.