UFC Fight Night: Reinier de Ridder vs Roman Dolidze Preview & Prediction

Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!

Two former middleweights reboot at 205, as Reinier de Ridder faces Roman Dolidze in a main card bout neither man can afford to lose.

Reinier de Ridder vs Roman Dolidze facts

What time are Reinier de Ridder and Roman Dolidze expected to walk out? 23 August 2026 at 1:45 am

Where is UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Rodrigues? Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, USA

Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Rodrigues? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 285

What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Rodrigues on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount

Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Rodrigues? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass

UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Rodrigues main card

Anthony Hernandez vs Gregory Rodrigues (Middleweight)

Serghei Spivac vs Vitor Petrino (Heavyweight)

Reinier de Ridder vs Roman Dolidze (Light Heavyweight)

Mason Jones vs MarQuel Mederos (Lightweight)

Carli Judice vs Jeisla Chaves (Women's Flyweight)

Terrance Chatman vs Anthony Wint (Heavyweight)

UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Rodrigues prelims

Jamall Emmers vs Lerryan Douglas (Featherweight)

Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Shamil Gaziev (Heavyweight)

Nasrat Haqparast vs Chris Padilla (Lightweight)

Marcio Barbosa vs Ryan Kuse (Featherweight)

Gauge Young vs Stanley Dorsainvil (Lightweight)

Wesley Schultz vs Jackson McVey (Middleweight)

Shanelle Dyer vs Elise Reed (Women's Strawweight)

Reinier de Ridder: “The Dutch Knight” leaves 185 after hitting the ceiling

Reinier de Ridder (21-4) tore through his first year at middleweight, submitting GM3 and Kevin Holland, beating Bo Nickal, and edging a split decision over Robert Whittaker to arrive on the doorstep of a title shot. It was at that moment when the scheduling of the fights caught up with him. A fifth fight in twelve months ended with the Dutchman unable to get up from his stool before the fifth bell against Brendan Allen, and Caio Borralho outpointed him at UFC 326. RDR has since declared himself done with the cut, and he’s 8-1 at light heavyweight across his career. 14 of his 21 wins have come by submission.

Roman Dolidze: The Georgian heads back to 205 with his back against the wall

Roman Dolidze (15-5) returns to light heavyweight, a division where he’s 3-0 including a short-notice decision over Anthony Smith at UFC 303. The 38-year-old Xtreme Courture man has dropped his last two at middleweight, submitted by Anthony Hernandez in the fourth and then completely outstruck by Christian Leroy Duncan in London. An ex-grappling champion who loves his leg locks, Dolidze carries real power on the feet, but lands just 3.19 significant strikes a minute, and his takedown defence sits at 32%.

Reinier de Ridder vs Roman Dolidze prediction

Two grapplers with the same first instincts. RDR doesn’t need explosive entries. He walks people down, pins them on the fence, secures the body lock and drags them into deep waters with trips and mat returns. That may be where Dolidze wants no part of, because his takedown defence has been a soft part of his game for years. The counter to that is that Dolidze is dangerous on the floor too, even from bottom, with heel hooks, leg locks and sweeps. Against a judo and bjj specialist carrying 14 submissions though, that threat gets cancelled. Whoever establishes top position dictates everything here, and RDR is far likelier to get there.

Neither man works in combinations on the feet, both fire a lot of single shots. Dolidze will go looking for the power punch rather than trying to outpoint anyone, which could happen given he throws sluggish but heavy. It’s also his only realistic route, and Duncan just showed what happens when he backs up and waits.

RDR’s cardio betrayed him at 185, and the entire premise of his move is that a healthier body can hopefully carry his grinding game deeper into fights. If it does, expect RDR to step on the gas to push Dolidze back, establish the fight in contact range, and slowly start to wear on the gas tank of Dolidze.

Prediction: Reinier de Ridder to win