UFC Abu Dhabi: Robert Whittaker Set to Face Fastest-Rising Middleweight Star in Legacy Fight
UFC Abu Dhabi: Robert Whittaker Set to Face Fastest-Rising Middleweight Star in Legacy Fight originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The UFC is returning to Abu Dhabi this summer, and Dana White has confirmed a massive lineup for the July 26 Fight Night event at the Etihad Arena. Headlining the card is former champion Robert Whittaker, who will face Reinier de Ridder in a pivotal middleweight showdown. Whittaker's name carries weight in the sport, but this might be the kind of fight that redefines it. It's a test, a statement, and maybe—just maybe—a turning point.
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Whittaker, 34, the proud Australian and former UFC middleweight champion, hasn't been seen in the Octagon since UFC 308, where a face crank from Khamzat Chimaev brought a sudden, painful end to his night.
Robert WhittakerGetty Images
The first-round submission didn't just stop the fight—it popped his jaw and wrecked his lower teeth. There were reports that you could hear a pop from cageside. Since then, Whittaker's been on the mend, and now he's stepping right back into the fire.
Standing in his way is Reinier de Ridder, also 34—a submission ace from the Netherlands and former two-division champ in ONE Championship. De Ridder has quietly built a resume of chaos, finishing his last three opponents, including a dominant submission win over then-undefeated Bo Nickal. His grappling pedigree is no joke, and he has a way of dragging opponents into deep water fast.
Reinier de Ridder© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
For Whittaker, it's more than just another fight. This is the kind of moment careers pivot on. He's danced with the best—Adesanya, Romero, Cannonier, Vettori, and most recently, Chimaev. He knows the pressure of the big stage. But he also knows that in a division this stacked, there's no room to fall behind.
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Ranked #5, he could be one big win away from title talk—or one stumble away from being passed by. If he's able to put on a dominant performance in Abu Dhabi, talk of rematches with Chimaev or current champion Dricus du Plessis could quickly come into focus. Both fights carry storylines that fans are eager to revisit—and Whittaker knows he has unfinished business with both.
And he won't be alone under the spotlight. The rest of the card is loaded with names and matchups that scream action:
UFC FIGHT NIGHT: ABU DHABI – July 26 | Etihad Arena
Bout order subject to change
Middleweight Bout
🇦🇺 #5 Robert Whittaker vs. #12 Reinier de Ridder 🇳🇱
5-Round Co-Main Event – Featherweight Bout
🇷🇺 Movsar Evloev vs. Aaron Pico 🇺🇸
Bantamweight Bout
🇷🇺 #3 Petr Yan vs. #13 Marcus McGhee 🇺🇸
Featherweight Bout
🇺🇸 Bryce Mitchell vs. Said Nurmagomedov 🇷🇺
Middleweight Bout
🇷🇺 Shara Magomedov vs. Marc-André Barriault 🇨🇦
Light Heavyweight Bout
🇷🇺 Nikita Krylov vs. Bogdan Guskov 🇺🇿
With top-ranked contenders, proven veterans, and breakout prospects all sharing the stage, UFC Abu Dhabi feels like more than a Fight Night—it feels like a reckoning. For Whittaker, the stakes couldn't be higher.
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Related: Ben Askren: New Update Reveals Emotional Details on UFC Veteran's Ongoing Health Battle
Related: Team Makhachev Reveals UFC's Power Play to Elevate Ilia Topuria
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
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