Robert Whittaker Set for Unexpected Clash with Reinier de Ridder at UFC Abu Dhabi

Former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker is returning to action this summer in a matchup that has caught many MMA fans by surprise. Despite speculation that Whittaker might face fellow middleweight contenders Caio Borralho or Sean Strickland, the UFC has charted a different path for "The Reaper."

On July 26, at UFC Abu Dhabi inside the Etihad Arena, Whittaker will square off against Reinier de Ridder, a former two-division champion under the ONE Championship banner. The fight announcement was made official as part of a loaded card, also featuring the co-main event featherweight bout between Movsar Evloev and Aaron Pico.

Reinier de Ridder is coming off a spectacular knockout win over the previously undefeated Bo Nickal, an upset that propelled him into the UFC spotlight. Known as "The Dutch Knight," de Ridder brings with him a strong grappling pedigree, submission skills, and growing confidence on the feet. Now 34, the Dutch standout will turn 35 in September, and this bout with Whittaker represents a critical opportunity to break into the UFC’s middleweight elite.

While the matchup is a major step up in competition for de Ridder, longtime fans of his career in ONE Championship have praised the booking. If he can pull off another major upset, it could instantly insert him into title contention in one of the UFC’s most talent-stacked divisions.

For Whittaker, this bout is not just about fending off a surging opponent — it’s about redemption. In his last appearance, he suffered a disappointing loss to Khamzat Chimaev, tapping to a face crank submission. Whittaker later revealed that the loss was made even more painful by a pre-existing dental issue that was aggravated during the fight.

That loss temporarily stalled Whittaker’s hopes of reclaiming the middleweight belt, but the bout with de Ridder gives him a chance to re-establish his place among the division’s best.

Stylistically, the clash pits Whittaker’s crisp boxing, elite takedown defense, and championship experience against de Ridder’s ground-heavy approach and recent surge in confidence. The outcome could shake up the title landscape in a division currently ruled by Dricus Du Plessis, and which still includes big names like Israel Adesanya, Jared Cannonier, and Sean Strickland.

As UFC Abu Dhabi draws near, all eyes will be on whether the seasoned Australian veteran can halt the momentum of the dangerous Dutch newcomer — or whether a new title contender will emerge from the Middle East.