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USA Today
8 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs De Ridder: Predictions, odds, how to watch
Robert Whittaker returns to the octagon to face Reinier De Ridder in a middleweight clash at UFC Fight Night, held at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Whittaker, known as The Reaper, is stepping into the ring with De Ridder with a record of 27 wins and eight losses. His last fight was a first-round submission loss against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 in October 2024, a performance that has surely fueled his determination for the upcoming bout. De Ridder, with an impressive record of 20 wins and two losses, is currently on a four-fight win streak. His victories over Kevin Holland and Bo Nickal at UFC 311 and UFC Fight Night in May 2025, respectively, showcase his current form and set the stage for an exciting clash with Whittaker. Here is everything to know ahead of UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. De Ridder. More: Ben Askren health update: Former UFC fighter finally out of hospital UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. De Ridder predictions Din Thomas writes: "De Ridder has plenty of experience he can tap into. This won't be too big of a moment for him -- fighting a five-round main event against one of the best middleweights in UFC history. De Ridder's forward and annoying pressure, as well as his length, will wear on Whittaker and force him to make mistakes. Once Whittaker does that, de Ridder is an unforgiving fighter who doesn't allow you to recover." Staff writes: "I predict that de Ridder will submit Whittaker in under three rounds, as his grappling and jiu-jitsu skills are far superior. Additionally, I think de Ridder can withstand the striking attacks from Whittaker and do enough not to get into any serious trouble on the feet. De Ridder has shown flashes of improved striking during his last fight against Nickal, as he even scored a stoppage win over him via a vicious knee strike to the body that instantly folded the former three-time NCAA national wrestling champion." Trent Reinsmith writes: "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." UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. De Ridder date UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. De Ridder will take place in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, July 26. How to watch UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. De Ridder UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. De Ridder coverage starts at noon ET on ESPN, ESPN+ and Disney+, with the main card beginning at 3 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN+ and Disney+. UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. De Ridder fight card and odds Fight card, according to ESPN and odds as of July 24: The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
The National
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The National
UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi: Whittaker and De Ridder both make weight
Robert Whittaker weighed in half-a-pound lighter than his opponent Reinier de Ridder during Friday's official weigh-ins ahead of UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi. Former middleweight champion Whittaker (27-8) weighed in at 186lbs, while his opponent tipped the scales at at 186lbs. The pair will headline Saturday's latest installment of the UFC in Abu Dhabi, which takes place at Etihad Arena on Yas Bay. Australian Whittaker, 34, is no stranger to Abu Dhabi having fought three times previously in the capital. His last outing in the UAE ended in a first-round loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 last October. He has previous wins over Jarrod Cannonier and Darren Till, both in 2020. De Ridder (20-2) has emerged as a rising contender in the middleweight division since joining the UFC last July. Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland and Bo Nickal have all been dispatched by the 34-year-old Dutchman over the past 12 month, all inside the distance. Former bantamweight champion Petr Yan of Russia weighed in at 135.5lbs for his co-main event against Marcus McGhee, who hit the 136lbs non-title limit. Weigh-in results: Main card Main event - Middleweight: Robert Whittaker (185.5) vs Reinier de Ridder (186) Co-main event - Bantamweight: Petr Yan (135.5) vs Marcus McGhee (136) Middleweight: Shara Magomedov (186) vs Marc-Andre Barriault (185) Flyweight: Asu Almabayev (126) vs Jose Ochoa (125.5) Prelims Welterweight: Muslim Salikhov (170.5) vs Carlos Leal (170) Bantamweight: Davey Grant (136) vs Da'Mon Blackshear (136)
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
UFC announces return to Perth, Australia in September
The UFC made official on Monday its return to the city of Perth, Western Australia. The fourth-most populous city in Australia will host UFC Fight Night on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. It's the fourth time the city will host a UFC event, but it will be the first time the city will receive a UFC Fight Night, rather than a pay-per-view event. Perth previously staged UFC 221 in February of 2018, UFC 284 in February of 2023 and UFC 305 in August of 2024. No bouts have been revealed, though numerous UFC fighters hail from Australia, including featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
Forbes
a day ago
- Sport
- Forbes
UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card: Date, Time, Location, How To Watch Or Stream
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JULY 23: Robert Whittaker works out for fans and media during the ... More UFC Fight Night Open Workouts at Yas Mall on July 23, 2025 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) The next event on the 2025 UFC schedule is nearly upon us. That fight card, UFC Abu Dhabi, takes place on Saturday, July 26, and is headlined by a pivotal middleweight matchup. In the UFC Fight Night main event, former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker looks to turn back rising 185-pound contender Reinier De Ridder. The UFC on ABC card has an early start, which is a rarity. UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card: Date Saturday, July 26, 2025 UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card: Location Etihad Arena in Yas Island UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card: How to Watch Or Stream Main Card: ABC Preliminary Card: ESPN and ESPN+ UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card: Fight Card Time Prelims: Noon ET Main Card: 3:00 p.m. ET UFC Abu Dhabi Main Event: Robert Whittaker Vs. Renier de Ridder ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 17: Robert Whittaker of New Zealand prepares to face Paulo Costa of ... More Brazil in their middleweight fight during UFC 298 at Honda Center on February 17, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) 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. DES MOINES, IOWA - MAY 03: Reinier de Ridder of The Netherlands reacts after his TKO victory over Bo ... More Nickal in their middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Wells Fargo Arena on May 03, 2025 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC) 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. 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 We will have more on the UFC Abu Dhabi fight card, including results, reactions and highlights on fight night.
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Sport
- Al Etihad
UFC Fight Night: Whittaker, De Ridder out on statement missions in Abu Dhabi
24 July 2025 22:06 KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)UFC Fight Night returns to Abu Dhabi with a compelling main event between former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and decorated Dutch grappler Reinier de Ridder when they clash this Saturday. The co-main event will see former bantamweight titleholder Petr Yan go up against a surging Marcus McGhee. Whittaker enters the main event with renewed focus after a period of recovery and reflection following his submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev in late 2024. That bout left him with a damaged jaw and a long dental rehabilitation, but he returns with fresh determination and a well-tested resolve. 'Better than ever, and all paid for by Dana [White, the UFC President] as it was a work injury,' said Whittaker with a wry smile before the open workouts on Thursday. Robert Whittaker In his way is a man who has been lapping up every opportunity in the past year, having competed in the UAE Warriors around this time when he got the UFC call-up. 'It has been a crazy ride, but I am happy ... also that whoever the UFC put in front of me, I have won even though I wasn't expected to. Even now, Whittaker may have lost but he is a legend of the game and been here so long, but I fancy my chances,' the Dutchman said, referring to his opponent's loss to clarified that his jaw wasn't broken as reported earlier. 'My teeth got moved in ... they were crappy teeth, so I just got rid of them,' he said. Reflecting on his recovery, he added: 'I spent some time with the family… focused on some other projects… and worked on some new skills.' Those skills will have been honed for De Ridder, said a tough-talking Whittaker. 'He hasn't fought anyone like me. I will be landing my mitts on him with my striking.'Three of the biggest bouts over the next two months are in the middleweight division and it all kicks off with De Ridder's main event with Whittaker. And De Ridder recognises that he's in a good position because the only fighters to beat Whittaker in the past decade have gone onto either win championships or immediately fight for the title. De Ridder earlier said his strategy will not be based on Whittaker's fight with Chimaev: 'I won't change my approach or pace – I think that's just kind of what I do. I'll put it all on him.' Reinier de Ridder The co-main fight between Yan and McGhee is also a statement fight of sorts, which will either reaffirm Yan's comeback or fuel McGhee's surprise ascent like De less experienced in five-round fights, McGhee has shown he can maintain output and composure over three intense rounds. This fight will test the American's ability, though, to adjust to Yan's pace and potentially deal with an underused but highly effective wrestling style if the striking exchanges do not favour the said he was confident. 'I am hoping for that… with a competent win this Saturday, I'll make sure to cement my place as the next contender. I think it's the right thing to do.'A humble McGhee, meanwhile, admitted to the underdog status. 'How could you not be surprised?' he said when offered the fight against Yan on short notice, adding: 'Honestly anything can happen in this game.'The undercard also features several matchups with divisional implications. Undefeated featherweight contender Movsar Evloev takes on Aaron Pico in what could be a breakout fight for the Magomedov returns in a middleweight clash against Marc-André Barriault, aiming to rebound from a rare defeat earlier this year. Fan-favourite Bryce Mitchell debuts at bantamweight against Said Nurmagomedov, promising an unpredictable stylistic clash between wrestling-heavy approaches and Dagestani precision. Main Card Robert Whittaker (27-8-0) vs. Reinier de Ridder (20-2-0)Petr Yan (18-5-0) vs. Marcus McGhee (10-1-0)Shara Magomedov (15-1-0) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (17-9-0)Asu Almabayev (21-3-0) vs. Jose Ochoa (8-1-0)Nikita Krylov (30-10-0) vs. Bogdan Guskov (17-3-0) Prelimary Card Bryce Mitchell (17-4-0) vs. Said Nurmagomedov (18-4-0)Muslim Salikhov (21-5-0) vs. Carlos Leal (22-6-0)Davey Grant (16-7-0) vs. Da'Mon Blackshear (17-7-1)Amanda Ribas (12-6-0) vs. Tabatha Ricci (11-3-0)Ibo Aslan (14-2-0) vs. Billy Elekana (7-2-0)Mohammad Yahya (12-5-0) vs. Steven Nguyen (9-2-0)Martin Buday (15-2-0) vs. Marcus Buchecha (5-1-0)
