The upcoming UFC middleweight clash between Reinier de Ridder and Bo Nickal has ignited a firestorm of anticipation, but not just for the action inside the Octagon. Reinier de Ridder, the former ONE Championship double champion, is experiencing an unexpected wave of support from around the globe, a phenomenon he attributes to a widespread dislike of his opponent.

De Ridder, set to face Nickal on May 3rd in Des Moines, has been overwhelmed by messages of encouragement from fans worldwide. While some support stems from expected rivalries—Iowa fans, for example, might naturally favor their own, given Nickal’s Pennsylvania State University background—the sheer volume of messages, and their international origin, has surprised the Dutch fighter.

“I get that from every part of the world at the moment. I don’t know why, maybe because he is such a prospect or something, but people really don’t seem to like him that much, but it is what it is,” de Ridder commented. He even noted that the support extends to the wrestling community in Iowa, with several wrestlers stating, ‘Go get this guy.’

While the reasons for this global anti-Nickal sentiment are varied, de Ridder summarized the common thread: “People just say, ‘He rubs me the wrong way.’ I don’t know… Must be something like that, but he deserves it, he does what he can, and he’s won every fight. There’s not much you can blame on him.” This suggests a less concrete reason for the dislike, perhaps stemming from Nickal's perceived attitude or personality, rather than his fighting skills.

The fight itself promises a fascinating grappling battle. Both fighters excel on the ground; de Ridder with his judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu expertise, and Nickal with his renowned collegiate wrestling pedigree. This presents a potential stalemate, with both fighters possibly negating each other's strengths. This could force both men to rely more heavily on their striking, a less-explored aspect of de Ridder's game. De Ridder's two previous losses came against Anatoly Malykhin in ONE Championship, where he struggled to take down the much larger heavyweight opponent. The size difference between Nickal and Malykhin is substantial, suggesting that this may not be as significant a factor in this fight.

The betting odds currently favor Nickal significantly, reflecting the perception of his potential rather than his proven UFC record. However, de Ridder's impressive UFC debut, combined with his size and reach advantages, makes him a dangerous underdog. The outcome hinges on whether Nickal will again choose to keep the fight standing, a strategy that worked against Paul Craig but could be detrimental against de Ridder's diverse skill set.

The fight is shaping up to be a compelling clash of styles, fueled by a surprising global narrative that has already made this matchup one of the most talked-about events of the UFC calendar. De Ridder's unexpected popularity surge highlights the complex interplay of skill, personality, and public perception in the world of mixed martial arts.