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Whittaker Aims for Title Return in Abu Dhabi Clash With De Ridder

He sees a strong outing against three-fight unbeaten Reinier de Ridder at Etihad Arena to boost his bid for another middleweight title shot

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Overview

  • Whittaker has said the fight represents a final window to reclaim middleweight title contention after his first-round submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 in October 2024.
  • De Ridder enters the main event with three straight UFC stoppage victories, most recently submitting Bo Nickal in May, and brings a grappling-heavy style honed as a two-division ONE Championship champion.
  • The bout is scheduled for July 26 at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena with preliminaries at noon ET on ESPN, ESPN+ and Disney+ followed by the main card at 3 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN+ and Disney+.
  • Betting markets list Whittaker as a −150 favorite and de Ridder at +130, reflecting expectations that Whittaker’s experience and striking could counter de Ridder’s size and submission threats.
  • The event highlights the UFC’s strategy to broaden its global reach by hosting a major fight night in Abu Dhabi and featuring a generational middleweight matchup.