Robert Whittaker to face Reinier de Ridder at Abu Dhabi UFC Fight Night

Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is set to face rising contender Reinier de Ridder at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi's Yas Island on Saturday, July 26.

Whittaker looks to return to the win column with a dominant performance against the Dutchman.

Whittaker (27-8-0, fighting out of New South Wales, Australia) is one of the UFC's most respected middleweights, who rose to prominence with standout victories over Yoel Romero, Jared Cannonier and Marvin Vettori. 

His opponent, Reinier de Ridder (20 wins, 2 losses, 0 draws), fighting out of Breda, Netherlands, has quickly emerged as a serious threat in the division. Since joining the UFC in late 2024, the Dutch fighter has showcased elite grappling and finishing abilities. Most notably, he handed Bo Nickal his first professional defeat — a win that signaled his arrival as a true contender.

The event marks the UFC’s return to the UAE capital, held in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Nikita Krylov (30-10-0, fighting out of Kislovodsk, Russia) faces Bogdan Guskov (17-3-0 fighting out of Dukent, Uzbekistan), who is looking to continue his win streak, in a light heavyweight match-up.
• Ramazan Temirov (19-3-0, fighting out of Karshi, Uzbekistan) takes on Asu Almabayev (21-3-0, fighting out of Almaty, Kazakhstan) in what promises to be a thrilling flyweight bout.
• Ibo Aslan (14-2-0, fighting out of Istanbul, Turkey) will meet American Billy Elekana (7-2-0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada) in a light heavyweight bout that should produce fireworks.