UFC Announces Five Matchups For UFC Abu Dhabi 2025 Fight Card

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 17: Robert Whittaker of New Zealand prepares to face Paulo Costa of … More Brazil in their middleweight fight during UFC 298 at Honda Center on February 17, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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The UFC heads back to Abu Dhabi on July 26 for a UFC Fight Night event. The promotion has announced the first four bouts for the fight card, including a middleweight main event between former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and the fast-rising Reinier de Ridder.

UFC Abu Dhabi 2025 Announced Fights

Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder – Middleweight

Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Marc-André Barriault – Middleweight

Nikita Krylov vs. Bogdan Guskov – Light Heavyweight

Ramazan Temirov vs. Asu Almabayev – Flyweight

Ibo Aslan vs. Billy Elekana – Light Heavyweight

UFC Abu Dhabi 2025 Fight Card Date

Saturday, July 26, 2025

UFC Abu Dhabi 2025 Fight Card Time

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UFC Abu Dhabi 2025 Fight Card Location

Etihad Arena, Yas Island, United Arab Emirates

UFC Abu Dhabi 2025 Fight Card How To Watch

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UFC Abu Dhabi 2025: Robert Whittaker

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – OCTOBER 26: Robert Whittaker of New Zealand prepares to face … More Khamzat Chimaev of Russia in a middleweight fight during the UFC 308 event at Etihad Arena on October 26, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

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Whittaker (26-8) is the No. 5 fighter in the official UFC middleweight rankings. Whittaker has long been one of the best fighters in the UFC’s 185-pound division. His only losses under the UFC banner as a middleweight have come against Israel Adesanya, Dricus Du Plessis, and Khamzat Chimaev.

The 34-year-old was on a two-fight winning streak since his loss to Du Plessis in a middleweight title eliminator in July 2023 when he stepped into the Octagon to face Chimaev at UFC 308 in October 2024.

Chimaev ran through Whittaker in that matchup, handing the ex-champ his first submission defeat as a member of the UFC roster.

UFC Abu Dhabi marks the first fight for Whittaker in 2025. He fought three times in 2024.

UFC Abu Dhabi 2025: Reinier de Ridder

DES MOINES, IOWA – MAY 03: Reinier de Ridder of The Netherlands reacts after his TKO victory over Bo … More Nickal in their middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Wells Fargo Arena on May 03, 2025 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)

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Reinier de Ridder (20-2) joined the UFC in 2024. De Ridder was a two-division champion with ONE, claiming titles in the middleweight and light heavyweight weight classes.

A talented grappler with 11 career submission victories before inking his UFC deal, De Ridder is 3-0 with the UFC, picking up submission wins over Gerald Meerschaert and Kevin Holland, while most recently putting and end to Bo Nickal’s unbeaten run with a knockout win on the UFC Des Moines fight card in early May.

De Ridder is the No. 13 fighter in the official UFC rankings. He gets the opportunity surge in those rankings when he faces Whittaker in July. De Ridder has fought twice in 2025. His win over Holland took place on the UFC 311 pay-per-view card.

We will have more on the UFC Abu Dhabi 2025 fight card as news becomes available.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/trentreinsmith/2025/05/15/ufc-announces-five-matchups-for-ufc-abu-dhabi-2025-fight-card/