Reinier de Ridder Narrowly defeats Robert Whittaker in Electrifying UFC Abu Dhabi Clash
At the etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, Reinier de Ridder emerged victorious over former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in a razor-close split decision, marking a significant milestone in his UFC journey.
A Grueling Test of Endurance and Tactics
De Ridder (21-2) notched his third win of 2025 by edging out Whittaker after five grueling rounds. The judges’ scorecards reflected the contest’s intensity: two scored it 48-47 for de Ridder,while one favored Whittaker by the same margin,highlighting how evenly matched both fighters were throughout.
The Dutch athlete faced adversity early in round three when Whittaker landed a devastating right hand that sent him crashing to the mat. Despite this setback, de Ridder showcased remarkable resilience and conditioning to bounce back quickly and regain momentum.
Outworking Opponent with Striking Volume and Grappling Control
Official UFC data revealed that de Ridder outstruck Whittaker significantly, landing 169 total strikes compared to 100 from his opponent.His strategy involved relentless body knees paired with sustained grappling pressure during later rounds, gradually draining Whittaker’s stamina and control inside the Octagon.
Post-fight Reflections from Both Fighters
After the bout, de Ridder praised his adversary’s toughness: “I didn’t anticipate such durability; he hits hard and keeps coming.”
This victory marked De Ridder’s fourth inside the UFC cage while extending a challenging stretch for Whittaker-who has now dropped two straight fights and lost three of his last five appearances.
Setting Sights on Championship Opportunities
Previously ranked thirteenth at middleweight, De Ridder wasted no time declaring ambitions for title contention. He called out top contenders Khamzat Chimaev or Dricus Du Plessis-set to face off at UFC 319 later this summer-for a potential shot at gold:
“I want to finish my next fight quickly-maybe even within round one-so give me my chance at that belt.”
Notable Performances from Supporting Bouts
The co-main event saw former bantamweight champ Petr yan earn a unanimous decision over Marcus McGhee by dominating key metrics such as total strikes landed, significant strikes thrown, octagon control time, and takedown accuracy throughout their encounter.
A Strong Comeback for shara Magomedov
Bouncing back from an earlier loss this year against Michael Page, Shara Magomedov secured a convincing unanimous decision victory against Marc-Andre Barriault. Judges awarded clean 30-27 scores across all rounds as Magomedov controlled every phase decisively.
The Future Landscape of Middleweight Contention
This fiercely competitive showdown between two elite middleweights underscores how dynamic this division remains heading into upcoming high-profile matchups scheduled for late summer. De Ridder’s ability to maintain composure under pressure combined with high-volume striking makes him an intriguing challenger poised to test top-ranked fighters like Chimaev or Du Plessis on his path toward championship glory.
