Whittaker vs. De Ridder to main event UFC Abu Dhabi in July
Chris Unger / UFC / Getty
A middleweight bout between Robert Whittaker and Reinier de Ridder will serve as the main event for UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26, the promotion announced Saturday.
Whittaker, a former middleweight champion, lost his last UFC appearance by submission to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 in October 2024.
Meanwhile, De Ridder has been riding a hot streak since signing with the UFC in September 2024. He's won all three of his fights, including a TKO victory over Bo Nickal earlier in May. His previous two wins came via submission.
Whittaker holds a 26-8 MMA record, while De Ridder owns a 20-2 mark.
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