Whittaker vs. de Ridder, will energize UFC fans across the globe on Friday, July 26th, 2025. Live on air at the historic Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, the fight guarantees to be a war of determination among two middleweight bruisers: Robert "The Reaper" Whittaker and Reinier "The Dutch Knight" de Ridder. The main card starts at 20:00 UTC, with the title fight guaranteed to begin at around 22:30 UTC.

This fight is a colossus cross-promotion event, matching a former UFC Middleweight Champion against a former double ONE Championship champion, and offers an sheer spectacle for MMA enthusiasts, sports bettors, and international fight fans to witness.

Robert Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) has been the best middleweight of the modern era for years. With his flashy strike, fight IQ, and toughness, the former UFC Middleweight Champion has faced the division's biggest stars like Israel Adesanya, Yoel Romero, and Jared Cannonier.

• An Outstanding Striker - Whittaker is a hard opponent to catch due to his speed, footwork, and head movement.

• Takedown Defense - The UFC middleweight division's best defensive grappler.

• 5-Round War Experience - Used to endure fierce competition.

• Durability Issues - He was unintentionally exposed to hard-hitting grapplers and pressure strikers.

• Recent Form = He recently suffered a poor defeat to Khamzat Chimaev in 2024, where Chimaev's unrelenting pace and grappling stopped him.

Whittaker is still a top fighter despite that defeat, and it looks like he had a great training camp before this bout.

Reinier de Ridder (17-1-1 MMA) is competing in the second UFC fight after a dominant career in ONE Championship, where he held the titles of both Middleweight and Light Heavyweight. His inaugural fight in the UFC early in 2025 was a dominating first-round submission win, showing that his world-class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills are quickly transferable to the UFC octagon.

• World-class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: 11 career submission wins.

• Grappling Control: Utilizing body locks, trips, and positional control to knock people down.

• Cardio and Composure: Controlled pace that annoys bullish strikers.

• Striking Defense: Still getting accustomed to stand-up confrontations.

• Competitive level: This is only his second UFC bout, and Whittaker is a significant upgrade.

De Ridder's move from ONE to UFC has generated monumental hype, especially considering the stylistic clash this fight presents.

De Ridder's reach and height will be a significant factor. Whittaker has fought and defeated taller opponents consistently, however.

• Whittaker's Game Plan: Stay on the outside, move laterally, and pepper de Ridder with jabs, body kicks, and quick combinations. Takedown defense will be key.

• De Ridder's Game Plan: Close the gap, clinch against the cage, trip or body lock to the ground, and try a submission.

It is a classic grappler versus striker match. If Whittaker is able to keep the fight at a distance and on the feet, he will be in control. De Ridder would need to sit out the early rush, shoot in for the grappling battle, and try to take control on the mat.

Robert Whittaker via Unanimous Decision
The former champion's experience, resilience, and punching power should be enough to last de Ridder out, though it would be a tight and strategic fight.

Based on Stake.com:

Odds Breakdown

• The favorite position of Whittaker is a reflection of both his UFC experience and punching dominance.

• Underdog position of de Ridder means that while his submission threat is genuine, punters worry about the adjustment of de Ridder to the level of competition at UFC.

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Key Takeaways:

• Date: Friday, July 26th, 2025

• Location: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi

• Main Event Time: Approx. 22:30 UTC

Whittaker vs. de Ridder is more than just a middleweight matchup as the octagon lights up in Abu Dhabi on July 26th. It's a conflict between fighting philosophies, promotions, and generations. Will de Ridder's grappling prowess and undefeated mentality from the ONE Championship upend the division, or will Whittaker's superior UFC experience and striking skills win out? Fans everywhere are in for an exciting, high-stakes battle, that much is clear. Don't pass this up; it has the potential to completely change the middleweight scene.