Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder to headline UFC Abu Dhabi
On the morning of Saturday’s pay-per-view event, the UFC announced a middleweight clash between ranked contenders Robert Whittaker (No. 5) and Reinier de Ridder (No. 13) for the main event of its July 26 Fight Night card in Abu Dhabi.
While fight fans are focused on UFC 315 presented by Skilled Trades College in Montreal, the promotion is already looking forward.
On the morning of Saturday’s pay-per-view event, the UFC announced a middleweight clash between ranked contenders Robert Whittaker (No. 5) and Reinier de Ridder (No. 13) for the main event of its July 26 Fight Night card in Abu Dhabi.
The bout will mark Whittaker’s first fight of 2025, as the former 185-pound champion has not competed since his first-round defeat to No. 3-ranked Khamzat Chimaev in the co-main of UFC 308 last October. The face crank submission caused significant dental damage to the 34-year-old, as Whittaker needed multiple teeth removed afterward and has been sidelined since.
The loss put an end to a two-fight win streak for “The Reaper” in 2024, having previously beaten Paulo Costa (No. 12) via unanimous decision and finishing Ikram Aliskerov in under two minutes shortly after that.
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It’s worth noting that taking on an up-and-comer is seemingly not what Whittaker had in mind for his next fight.
After Roman Dolidze called out the former champ (along with Israel Adesanya) in March, Whittaker shrugged it off because “I have nothing to gain from this,” he explained, while adding he’d rather fight another former title-holder in Sean Strickland.
Fair enough, considering his only losses in the division have come against a former two-time middleweight champ in Adesanya (twice), current 185-pound belt-wearer Dricus du Plessis and the highly ranked Chimaev.
“I’m trying to fight a top-five guy (next),” Whittaker said. “Join the queue. I want to fight Sean (Strickland).
Despite those interested, the UFC has matched him against a relative newcomer in de Ridder. The reasoning for which has yet to be made clear.
Whittaker will enter the fight with a 26-8 record (17-6 in UFC).
Meanwhile, de Ridder has shot up the middleweight ladder since making his debut last November. “RDR” is a perfect 3-0 since, all by early stoppage, and unlike Whittaker, has been incredibly active in 2025.
The main event bout at the Etihad Arena will be his third fight of the year, and second in less than three months. The Dutch mixed martial artist most recently saw his hand raised last week, after beating fellow rising prospect Bo Nickal in two rounds. De Ridder landed a cracking knee to the body of Nickal that not only won him the fight but also earned him a $50,000 USD Performance of the Night bonus.
He’s now 20-2 overall as an MMA pro.
And while all three of de Ridder’s UFC victories have been impressive and come against notable names — his first two wins came from Gerald Meerschaert and Kevin Holland — it’ll still be a significant step up in competition, taking on a rested Whittaker.
No other fights for UFC Abu Dhabi have been announced as of yet.
