UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card: Odds, Prop Bets, Predictions And Picks
Saturday's UFC Abu Dhabi fight card features a high-stakes middleweight matchup in the main event. In that contest, former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker looks to turn back the surging Reinier De Ridder. Below, we look at the betting odds, line movement, potential prop bets, and picks for the UFC Abu Dhabi main card.
The UFC Abu Dhabi main card airs on ABC on Saturday, July 26, following prelims on ESPN. The preliminary card for the UFC Fight Night event begins at noon ET. The main card kicks off at 3:00 p.m. ET.
UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card Main Event: Betting Odds, Line Movement And Predictions - Robert Whittaker Vs. Reinier De Ridder
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JULY 25: (L-R) Opponents Robert Whittaker of New Zealand and ... More Reinier de Ridder of The Netherlands face off during the UFC Fight Night ceremonial weigh-in at Etihad Arena on July 25, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC)
Whittaker (26-8) is the No. 5 fighter in the official UFC middleweight rankings. Whittaker is 15-4 with the UFC since June 2014. His only losses have come to Israel Adesanya, Dricus du Plessis, and Khamzat Chimaev. Adesanya is a former UFC middleweight champ. Du Plessis is the current UFC 185-pound champion, and Chimaev is scheduled to face Du Plessis in a title fight at UFC 319 in August. In short, the 34-year-old is the gate keeper to the elite of the division.
Whittaker is coming off a nasty submission loss to Chimaev at UFC 308 in October 2024.
De Ridder (20-2) has been climbing the UFC middleweight ladder since he joined the promotion after holding the ONE middleweight and light heavyweight titles. The 34-year-old is No. 13 in the UFC 185-pound division. He is 3-0 with the promotion with stoppage wins over Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland and Bo Nickal. His win over Nickal was his most recent victory, coming in May of this year.
When the betting odds opened for this matchup, Whittaker was a -145 favorite over the +120 De Ridder. That betting line has held.
With fight night approaching, Whittaker has picked up 51 percent of the bets, while De Ridder has earned 54 percent of the handle.
There are a couple of burning questions about this fight to ponder before making a pick. Has a career of facing the best of the best at middleweight caught up with Robert Whittaker leading to a decline in his skills? Is Reinier de Ridder ready to face someone as well-rounded as Robert Whittaker?
We won't know the answers to those questions until after Saturday's fight. What we do know is that Whittaker is one of the best middleweight fighters in the history of the UFC and that he is the more well-rounded fighter in this matchup.
The betting pick is Whittaker to beat De Ridder via decision.
UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card Co-Main Event: Betting Odds, Line Movement And Predictions - Petr Yan Vs. Marcus McGhee
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JULY 25: (L-R) Opponents Petr Yan of Russia and Marcus McGhee face ... More off during the UFC Fight Night ceremonial weigh-in at Etihad Arena on July 25, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan looks to hold onto his No. 3 ranking when he faces the No. 12 ranked Marcus McGhee in the co-main event of Saturday's UFC Abu Dhabi fight card.
Yan is 3-4 dating back to his March 2021 title-losing DQ setback to Aljamain Sterling. However, the ex-champ has back-to-back wins heading into Saturday's fight card. As for McGhee, he is 4-0 in the UFC and looking to make a move against a former titleholder.
When the betting line opened for this 135-pound scrap, Yan was a -325 favorite over the +275 McGhee, those odds have shifted. Today, Yan is listed at -400, while McGhee is +310.
McGhee has 68 percent of the bets for this contest, while 52 percent of the money is on Yan.
McGhee has struggled with leg kicks, expect Yan to look to land those kicks as soon as this matchup begins. The pick is Yan to win via decision.
UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card Co-Main Event: Betting Odds, Line Movement And Predictions - Shara Magomedov Vs. Marc-André Barriault
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JULY 25: (L-R) Opponents Shara Magomedov of Russia and Marc-Andre ... More Barriault of Canada face off during the UFC Fight Night ceremonial weigh-in at Etihad Arena on July 25, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
We have a middleweight matchup between two fighters trying to find a spot in the division. In one corner we have Shara Magomedov, who the UFC seems to favor, but who had been handed some friendly matchmaking in his first four UFC fights. He won all of those bouts, with two victories coming via knockout. In his most recent outing, Magomedov dropped a decision to the more experienced Michael 'Venom' Page. As for Barriault, a member of the UFC since 2019, he has never won more than two fights in a row with the promotion. Barriault is coming off a May knockout win over Bruno Silva.
When the betting odds opened for this fight, Magomedov was a massive -455 favorite over the +340 Barriault. That line has shifted more in favor of Magomedov. Today, he is listed at -650, while Barriault is +475.
With the lopsided odds, 59 percent of the bets have been on Barriault, but even with the lines being what they are, Magomedov has 79 percent of the bets.
Magomedov is the better overall striker in this contest. With that, look for Magomedov, who also has the better chin, to win. Barriault has been knocked out in his past two losses, look for Magomedov to make that three on Saturday.
UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card Co-Main Event: Betting Odds, Line Movement And Predictions - Asu Almabayev Vs. Jose Ochoa
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JULY 25: (L-R) Opponents Asu Almabayev of Kazakstan and Jose Ochoa ... More of Peru face off during the UFC Fight Night ceremonial weigh-in at Etihad Arena on July 25, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
The flyweight matchup between Asu Almabayev and Jose Ochoa came together late. Almabayev was initially booked against Ramazan Temirov, but a failed drug test forced Temirov off the card.
When the betting line opened for this late replacement contest, it was a pick 'em with both fighters listed at -110. Today, it's still a pick 'em, but Almabayev is -115 to Ochoa's -105.
Almabayev has 74 percent of the bets and 51 percent of the handle.
The pick is Almabayev to win via decision.
UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card Co-Main Event: Betting Odds, Line Movement And Predictions - Nikita Krylov Vs. Bogdan Guskov
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JULY 25: (L-R) Opponents Nikita Krylov of Ukraine and Bogdan ... More Guskov of Uzbekistan face off during the UFC Fight Night ceremonial weigh-in at Etihad Arena on July 25, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Opening the UFC Abu Dhabi main card is a light heavyweight matchup between Nikita Krylov and Bogdan Guskov. Both men are ranked inside the top 15 of the 205-pound division, with Krylov at No. 10 and Guskov at No. 13.
When the betting line opened, Krylov was -185 to Guskov's +150. Today, Krylov is -200 and Guskov is listed at +165.
Bettors are favoring Guskov, who has earned 79 percent of the bets and 81 percent of the handle.
The pick is Guskov to win via knockout.
*Odds via BetMGM
UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card: Main Card
Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder - Middleweight
Petr Yan vs. Marcus McGhee - Bantamweight
Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Marc-André Barriault - Middleweight
Asu Almabayev vs. Jose Ochoa - Flyweight
Nikita Krylov vs. Bogdan Guskov - Light heavyweight
UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card: Preliminary Card
Bryce Mitchell vs. Said Nurmagomedov - Bantamweight
Muslim Salikhov vs. Carlos Leal Miranda - Welterweight
Davey Grant vs. Da'Mon Blackshear - Bantamweight
Amanda Ribas vs. Tabatha Ricci - Strawweight
İbo Aslan vs. Billy Elekana - Light heavyweight
Mohammad Yahya vs. Steven Nguyen - Featherweight
Martin Buday vs. Marcus Buchecha - Heavyweight
UFC Abu Dhabi Popular Prop Bets
Said Nurmagomedov to beat Bryce Mitchel by Ninja Choke +1300
Billy Elekana to beat İbo Aslan by Submission +1200
Billy Elekana to beat İbo Aslan by KO/TKO, DQ or Submission +475
Bogdan Guskov to beat Nikita Krylov by KO/TKO or DQ +225
Said Nurmagomedov to beat Bryce Mitchel by Guillotine +700
*Odds via BetMGM
We will have more on the UFC Abu Dhabi fight card, including results, reactions and highlights on fight night.
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