The UFC Fight Night is back at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, this Saturday for a highly-anticipated 12-fight card. The main event features a middleweight clash between two formidable champions: former UFC middleweight king Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker and two-division ONE champion Reiner de Ridder (“RDR”). This blockbuster showdown promises to be a thrilling contest, pitting a UFC veteran against a rising star who has already made a significant impact in the promotion.
Reiner de Ridder enters his first UFC main event with a perfect 3-0 record, all secured by finish. The Dutch fighter is coming off a stunning upset TKO victory over highly-touted prospect Bo Nickal, a win he secured as a significant underdog. This impressive performance followed two submission victories against Kevin Holland and Gerald Meerschaert. De Ridder’s quick success in the UFC has established him as a legitimate threat and has set the stage for this massive fight against one of the middleweight division’s most respected fighters.
While this is RDR’s first time headlining a UFC card, he is no stranger to championship-level fights, having won the ONE Light Heavyweight title in a five-round decision back in 2021. However, Robert Whittaker brings a wealth of experience, entering his 10th career main event or five-round bout. This extensive experience in championship rounds could give Whittaker a significant cardio advantage, especially if the fight goes deep into the later rounds.
Fans won’t want to miss this co-main event, which is expected to showcase two contrasting fighting styles and a high level of technical skill. The walkouts for Whittaker and de Ridder are scheduled for approximately 5:45 p.m. ET (2:45 p.m. PT) on Saturday evening, with the event airing live on ABC. Be sure to tune in to see if “The Reaper” can fend off the surging “RDR” or if de Ridder can add a monumental victory to his already impressive resume.
Robert Whittaker and Reinier de Ridder face off in an explosive night of UFC Fight Night. Check out the international schedules and don't miss any of the fights on the main card. | Photo by @ufc / Instagram
Where to watch the Robert Whittaker vs Reinier de Ridder fight in US
Watch Robert Whittaker vs Reinier de Ridder Live for the ABC! This highly-anticipated MMA match will be streamed live on ESPN+, specially in the United States. Whittaker and De Ridder’s main ring walk is expected to start at 5:45 p.m. ET / 4:45 p.m. CT / 3:45 p.m. CT / 2:45 p.m. PT in the US.
Where to watch the Robert Whittaker vs Reinier de Ridder fight in UK
Robert Whittaker vs Reinier de Ridder Live, the UFC Fight Night’s main event, will be streamed live all around the world on ESPN+ and the United Kingdom will not be the exception. Whittaker and De Ridder’s main ring walk is expected to start at 10:45pm on Saturday, July 26th in the UK.
Where to watch the Robert Whittaker vs Reinier de Ridder fight in Australia
Don’t miss the highly-anticipated MMA showdown between Robert Whittaker and Reinier de Ridder, streaming live on ESPN+ this Saturday, June 26 2025. The clash will take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The main card is set to begin around 8:45am AEDT on Sunday, July 27 2025.
Where to watch the Robert Whittaker vs Reinier de Ridder fight in Canada
Don’t miss the MMA match between Robert Whittaker and Reinier de Ridder in the UFC Fight Night’s main event, streaming live on ESPN+ on Saturday, June 26 2025 at 5:45pm EST to all its subscribers in Canada at no additional cost.
Relive the results of UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. De Ridder. Here are the winners, losers, and key moments from each round on the main card. | Photo by @ufc / Instagram
Robert Whittaker vs Reinier de Ridder fight card
Main Event & Co-Main Event
- Robert Whittaker (Australia) vs Reinier de Ridder (Netherlands) Middleweight
- Petr Yan (Russia) vs Marcus McGhee (USA) Bantamweight
- Shara Magomedov (Russia) vs Marc-Andre Barriault (Canada) Middleweight
- Asu Almabayev def. Jose Ochoa
- Bogdan Guskov def. Nikita Krylov
Prelims
- Bryce Mitchell def. Said Nurmagomedov
- Muslim Salikhov def. Carlos Leal
- Davey Grant def. Da’Mon Blackshear
- Tabatha Ricci def. Amanda Ribas
- Billy Elekana def. Ibo Aslan
- Steven Nguyen def. Mohammad Yahya
- Martin Buday def. Marcus Buchecha
