**Reinier de Ridder to Make UFC Debut Against Gerald Meerschaert**

Reinier de Ridder is set to make a notable entrance into the UFC, squaring off against veteran Gerald Meerschaert. Known for his tenure in ONE Championship, de Ridder, who previously held titles in both middleweight and light heavyweight divisions, will compete in a middleweight bout scheduled for November 9 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The announcement of de Ridder signing with the UFC was made public on Tuesday, and by Wednesday, his first matchup was confirmed. According to sources familiar with the bout, de Ridder (17-2 MMA) will have his first UFC fight against Meerschaert (37-17 MMA, 12-9 UFC), noted for his recent success in setting the record for most finishes in the UFC middleweight division.

De Ridder, 34, built a strong record during his time with ONE Championship, winning his first seven fights before losing his titles in two consecutive bouts to Anatoly Malykhin. He made a successful return to competition in July with a first-round TKO victory at UAE Warriors, breaking his losing streak.

Gerald Meerschaert, who represents a formidable challenge for de Ridder, recently added to his accolades by submitting Edmen Shahbazyan, thereby claiming his 12th career finish at 185 pounds—an achievement that broke the previous record held by UFC Hall of Famer Anderson Silva. This victory marked Meerschaert's second consecutive submission win.

The bout between de Ridder and Meerschaert adds significant intrigue to the November 9 UFC Fight Night card as both fighters aim to further their impressive careers.