De Ridder Edges Whittaker in Abu Dhabi Thriller, Demands UFC Middleweight Title Shot
De Ridder Edges Whittaker in Abu Dhabi Thriller, Demands UFC Middleweight Title Shot
Reinier de Ridder has firmly cemented his place among the UFC middleweight elite, securing a hard-fought split decision victory over former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday. The intense main event, held at the Etihad Arena, saw de Ridder overcome a harrowing third-round knockdown to clinch the win, extending his impressive promotional record to 4-0.
Following the grueling contest, a triumphant Reinier de Ridder immediately set his sights on the championship, calling for a shot at the UFC middleweight title. He specifically challenged the winner of the highly anticipated August 16 bout between reigning champion Dricus du Plessis and undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319. “Give me a chance to fight for that strap,” de Ridder stated, signaling his readiness for the division’s top prize.
Robert Whittaker, visibly disappointed with the judges’ scorecards, acknowledged de Ridder’s relentless pressure and unique fighting style. The back-and-forth battle saw Whittaker land the most impactful shot of the night, dropping de Ridder in the third, but the Dutchman’s resilience and control-heavy strategy ultimately swayed the judges.
The action-packed UFC Abu Dhabi card also featured other significant results. Former bantamweight champion Petr Yan returned to winning ways with a unanimous decision over Marcus McGhee, while Bogdan Guskov delivered a first-round TKO against Nikita Krylov. Other main card winners included Shara Magomedov, Asu Almabayev, and on the prelims, standout performances from Muslim Salikhov with a swift KO and Tabatha Ricci with a TKO victory.
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