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UFC books former champ against surging newcomer

Mathew Riddle

UFC-UFC.com

UFC Abu Dhabi gets a familiar name in its main event.

The July 26 event has flown under the radar as Max Holloway was booked for a trilogy with Dustin Poirier, and events in Atlanta and Azerbaijan received their headliners.

While fans have been eagerly awaiting news of the UFC 317 International Fight Week headliner, the UFC has announced a huge fight for Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Reinier de Ridde
Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Reinier de Ridder gets shot at top-five middleweight against Robert Whittaker

On Saturday, UFC officially announced that former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker will be returning in a five-round main event against Reinier De Ridder on July 26. It will take place at the Etihad Arena, in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

'RDR' vs. Whittaker was rumored to be in the works just days after UFC Des Moines.

'RDR' burst onto the scene in November 2024 and has already racked up three incredible wins, knocking out Bo Nickal in a breakthrough performance at UFC Des Moines. A former ONE Championship double-champion, de Ridder will look to add to his MMA accolades very soon.

Whittaker hasn't fought since being submitted by Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308, where 'Borz' flattened his teeth with a nasty face crank.

After Israel Adesanya was knocked out at UFC Dubai earlier this year, it's entirely possible we see a complete shift in the middleweight elite come July.

UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. de Ridder

The July 26 Fight Night, which will be an early start for US fans at 12 pm ET, only has two announced fights so far (10/05/2025):

  • #3 Robert Whittaker vs. #13 Reinier De Ridder; middleweight contest
  • #8 Asu Almabayev vs. #13 Ramazan Temirov; flyweight contest

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Mathew Riddle
MATHEW RIDDLE

Mathew is a UK-based combat sports journalist, graphic designer, and SEO expert with half a decade of digital marketing and a dedicated four-year track record in MMA journalism. He joined MMA Knockout when it was founded in 2023. Mathew's insights have been featured on Bloody Elbow, The Fight Fanatic, and Heavy on UFC. He runs Warrior Tribune and can be contacted by his Muckrack profile.

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