UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. de Ridder—Abu Dhabi Showdown
Robert Whittaker faces Reinier de Ridder in a crucial UFC fight at Etihad Arena. Whittaker seeks redemption, while de Ridder aims to stay unbeaten.
Saturday, July 26, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (27-8-0) squares off against Dutch grappling phenom Reinier de Ridder (20-2-0) in a pivotal five-round clash.
Whittaker, known as 'The Reaper," returns to the Octagon seeking redemption after a submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev last October. De Ridder, unbeaten in the UFC, arrives on an impressive streak of three finishes in eight months.
Tale of Two Styles: The main event
Whittaker, the No. 5-ranked contender, boasts a crisp striking attack honed over 18 UFC fights and 4 hours of Octagon time, with a 45.99% significant striking accuracy and 4.54 strikes landed per minute. A veteran of championship wars, he blends karate-based movement with powerful combinations.
'He's a well-accomplished fighter…but he hasn't fought anyone like me," Whittaker warned at media day, confident his speed and striking will create openings to exploit.
De Ridder, the No. 13 contender, stands 6'4" with a 78.66% striking accuracy and an average of 1.36 submission attempts per fight. A two-division ONE Championship titleholder, he excels in positional control and relentless pressure.
Rising bantamweight contender Marcus McGhee (10-1-0) makes the biggest leap of his career when he meets former champion Petr Yan (18-5-0). Yan, rebounding from a three-fight slump with wins over Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo, looks to reestablish himself as a title threat.
McGhee enters 4-0 in the UFC, featuring six straight stoppages. This clash of precision striking versus explosive power promises fireworks.
– Middleweight: Shara Magomedov (15-1-0) vs. Marc-André Barriault (17-9-0)
Magomedov, coming off his first career loss to Michael Page, seeks a bounce-back against Canada's Barriault, who snapped a three-fight skid with a May knockout. A contrast of high-volume kickboxing and gritty boxing, this bout could steal the show if they let their hands fly.
– Flyweight: Asu Almabayev (21-3-0) vs. José Ochoa (8-1-0)
Almabayev's swarming pace and striking output will be tested by Ochoa's shrewd grappling. With flyweight depth at an all-time high, a dominant win here positions the victor for a divisional rise.
– Light Heavyweight: Nikita Krylov (30-10-0) vs. Bogdan Guskov (17-3-0)
Krylov's veteran savvy meets Guskov's undefeated promise. Look for early testing of timing and counters as each fighter hunts a finish; expect a back-and-forth war.
The Storyline
Since his 2017 title reign, Whittaker has remained in elite contention but stumbled against Chimaev. Now, 'After losing, I've always gotten better…and come back with a win. It's important…to move toward the title," he reflected, emphasizing the mental reset and hunger driving his training camp.
A former physical therapist turned two-division champion, de Ridder's UFC run has been nothing short of spectacular: three finishes in less than a year. 'They don't think I can do it…They got it wrong this time," he quipped on being labeled an underdog, illustrating his unwavering self-belief.
Division in flux
With champion Dricus du Plessis preparing to face Khamzat Chimaev next, the middleweight picture is up for grabs. A victory for Whittaker vaults him back into title conversation; for de Ridder, it would cement dark-horse status as the next title challenger.
Why This Card Matters
UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. de Ridder isn't just another card—it's a crossroads for multiple divisions. From Whittaker's quest to regain his throne to de Ridder's bid at stardom, from Yan's title hopes to Muñoz's showcase of Europe's rising talents, the night promises drama, technique, and heart-stopping finishes. MMA fans should prepare for a high-octane main card where every fight carries stakes that ripple through 185 lb, 135 lb, and beyond.
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