Reinier de Ridder defeats Robert Whittaker in UFC Abu Dhabi main event

The UFC Fight Night event held on July 26, 2025, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi featured a headline middleweight bout between Reinier de Ridder and former champion Robert Whittaker. De Ridder continued his impressive UFC run by defeating Whittaker via split decision, positioning himself as a strong contender for a future middleweight title shot. The event showcased several notable fights, including Steven Nguyen's TKO victory over Mohammad Yahya due to a severe eye injury, Tabatha Ricci's TKO win over Amanda Ribas, and Bogdan Guskov's TKO over Nikita Krylov. De Ridder's victory marks a significant step in his transition from ONE Championship to UFC dominance, while Whittaker aimed to maintain his elite status in the division. The fight card also featured other competitive bouts, such as Petr Yan facing Marcus McGhee and Shara Magomedov against Marc-Andre Barriault, underscoring a night packed with high-level MMA action. Fans witnessed a dynamic night of striking and grappling talent that could reshape the UFC middleweight landscape.