It’s Official: Reinier De Ridder To Face BJJ Superstar Andre Galvao In Grappling Match At ONE X
Following his first title defense, two-division ONE World Champion Reinier de Ridder will take a quick timeout from his MMA career to challenge BJJ great Andre Galvao in a grappling match.
The two athletes had teased this bout in recent days, and they are now officially booked to square off at ONE X on Saturday, 26 March, inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Last Friday, De Ridder submitted Kiamrian Abbasov to retain his middleweight MMA gold in the main event of ONE: BAD BLOOD.
Immediately after, De Ridder – who holds BJJ and judo black belts – jumped on the mic and called out the Brazilian superstar.
“In three weeks at ONE X, Andre Galvao, let’s find out who the best grappler is around these parts. Let’s go man, I’ll choke you out!”
ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion Reinier de Ridder
Galvao, a five-time BJJ World Champion and a six-time ADCC World Champion, has been patiently waiting for the chance to make his ONE Championship debut.
The 39-year-old signed with the promotion last November, with the goal of competing in both submission grappling and mixed martial arts.
Once De Ridder laid down the challenge – and boldly predicted that he would choke out Galvao – the famed grappler quickly accepted.
“Hey @onechampionship let’s make it happen!!! 💯👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼✨🤩 I’m ready!”
Andre Galvao’s Instagram caption
Another Exciting Grappling Match Is Happening At ONE X
Reinier de Ridder and Andre Galvao aren’t the only athletes competing in a grappling match at ONE X.
On Wednesday, it was confirmed that American star Danielle Kelly will make her ONE Championship debut against Japanese veteran and fellow BJJ black belt Mei Yamaguchi in an atomweight grappling match at the promotion’s historic 10-year anniversary show.
Kelly immediately expressed her excitement on her official Instagram account:
See you soon Singapore 🇸🇬 so excited to be on this card
Kelly may be new to ONE Championship, but she’s defeated several veteran fighters in grappling competitions. That impressive list includes Carla Esparza, Roxanne Modafferi, and Cynthia Calvillo.
Yamaguchi, however, is also a world-class BJJ black belt who owns terrific cardio, and she could make things tricky for the American debutant.
I’m so excited to fight in Singapore again. ONE X will be the biggest event in ONE Championship history😆✨ Let’s show the power 💪🔥🔥🔥
Mei Yamaguchi wrote in a caption on Instagram
The De Ridder vs. Galvao and Kelly vs. Yamaguchi grappling matches will each be contested in a single 12-minute round. Stay tuned to onefc.com for more details about ONE X.
