UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder

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UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder
UFC on ABC 9 poster.jpg
The poster for UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder
Promotion Ultimate Fighting Championship
DateJuly 26, 2025 (2025-07-26)
Venue Etihad Arena
City Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
AttendanceNot announced [1]
Event chronology
UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder UFC on ESPN: Taira vs. Park

UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder (also known as UFC on ABC 9) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on July 26, 2025, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. [2]

Contents

Background

The event marked the promotion's 21st visit to Abu Dhabi and first since UFC 308 in October 2024. [2]

A middleweight bout between former UFC Middleweight Champion (also The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes welterweight winner) Robert Whittaker and former ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion Reinier de Ridder headlined the event. [3]

A featherweight bout between Movsar Evloev and promotional newcomer Aaron Pico was scheduled to take place in a five round co-headliner. [4] They were briefly expected to meet at UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales in May, but it did not come to fruition. [5] In turn, under two weeks prior to this event, Evloev had to withdraw due to an injury and the pairing was scrapped. [6]

A women's strawweight bout between Amanda Ribas and Tabatha Ricci took place at this event. [7] The bout was originally scheduled for UFC 318 one week before but was moved to this event for unknown reasons. [8]

Asu Almabayev and Ramazan Temirov were expected to face each other in a flyweight bout on the preliminary card. [9] However, Temirov pulled out due to failing a drug test in early July and was replaced by Jose Ochoa. [10]

Results

Main card (ABC / ESPN+)
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
Middleweight Reinier de Ridder def. Robert Whittaker Decision (split) (47–48, 48–47, 48–47)55:00
Bantamweight Petr Yan def. Marcus McGhee Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)35:00
Middleweight Sharabutdin Magomedov def. Marc-André Barriault Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)35:00
Flyweight Asu Almabayev def.José OchoaDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)35:00
Light Heavyweight Bogdan Guskov def. Nikita Krylov KO (punches)14:18
Preliminary card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Bantamweight Bryce Mitchell def. Said Nurmagomedov Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)35:00
Welterweight Muslim Salikhov def.Carlos Leal MirandaKO (punch)10:42
Bantamweight Davey Grant def.Da'Mon BlackshearDecision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)35:00
Women's Strawweight Tabatha Ricci def. Amanda Ribas TKO (elbow and punches)22:59
Light HeavyweightBilly Elekanadef. İbo Aslan Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)35:00
FeatherweightSteven Nguyendef.Mohammad YahyaTKO (eye injury)25:00
Heavyweight Martin Buday def. Marcus Buchecha Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)35:00

    [11]

    Bonus awards

    The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses. [12]

    See also

    References

    1. Mike Bohn (2025-07-27). "UFC on ABC 9 post-event facts: A new single-fight knockdown record". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
    2. 1 2 Staff (2025-03-20). "UFC announces return to Abu Dhabi for Fight Night event in July". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
    3. Matthew Wells (2025-03-20). "Former champ Robert Whittaker returns for UFC Abu Dhabi headliner vs. Reinier de Ridder". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
    4. Staff (2025-06-18). "Aaron Pico gets unbeaten Movsar Evloev for UFC debut in Abu Dhabi". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
    5. Farah Hannoun and Mike Bohn (2025-04-09). "Now signed to UFC, Aaron Pico reveals just how close he came to fighting Movsar Evloev". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
    6. Jamie Theodosi (2025-07-14). "UFC Abu Dhabi takes huge hit as co-main event number one contender fight is cancelled". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
    7. Neri Fung (2025-06-04). "Change! Amanda Ribas vs. Tabatha Ricci fight moved to UFC Abu Dhabi". agfight.com. Retrieved 2025-06-04.(in Brazilian Portuguese)
    8. Alexander Behunin (2025-05-06). "Fight news! Amanda Ribas vs. Tabatha Ricci added to UFC 318 in New Orleans". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
    9. Jay Pettry (2025-05-08). "UFC Abu Dhabi adds Asu Almabayev vs. Ramazonbek Temirov at flyweight". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
    10. Alexander Behunin (2025-07-08). "Festering wound triggers failed drug test, bounces top Flyweight prospect from UFC Abu Dhabi - 'It was my mistake'". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
    11. "UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
    12. Chris Taylor (2025-07-26). "UFC Abu Dhabi Bonus Report: Muslim Salikhov one of four POTN winners". bjpenn.com. Retrieved 2025-07-26.