Tickets Available Now at EtihadArena.ae and Ticketmaster.ae
Abu Dhabi, UAE – Fight fans, mark your calendars for Saturday, July 26, as the UFC storms back to Yas Island for an unmissable night of action at the iconic Etihad Arena. In partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: WHITTAKER vs DE RIDDER promises fireworks with a high-stakes middleweight clash between a battle-tested former champion and a surging contender.
Headlining the card is No.5 ranked Robert Whittaker (27-8-0), fighting out of New South Wales, Australia. The former middleweight champion and fan favorite returns to the Octagon® looking to reassert his dominance after a storied run that includes signature victories over elite opponents like Yoel Romero, Jared Cannonier, and Marvin Vettori. Known for his precision striking, resilience, and fight IQ, Whittaker is aiming to remind the world why he once sat atop the 185-pound division.
Standing across from him is a fast-rising force in the middleweight ranks, Reinier de Ridder (20-2-0), hailing from Breda, Netherlands. Since his UFC debut in late 2024, de Ridder has made waves with his elite grappling and finishing instincts. Most recently, he turned heads with a dominant victory over Bo Nickal, handing the American phenom his first professional defeat. Now, de Ridder sets his sights on the biggest challenge of his UFC career — toppling a former champion to accelerate his march toward title contention.
Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT: WHITTAKER vs DE RIDDER are on sale now at EtihadArena.ae and Ticketmaster.ae. Don’t miss your chance to be part of one of the summer’s most anticipated sporting events.
Additional Fights Announced
The action doesn’t stop with the main event. The undercard is stacked with high-octane matchups that promise to keep fans on the edge of their seats:
- Nikita Krylov (30-10-0), the ever-dangerous light heavyweight from Kislovodsk, Russia, takes on rising contender Bogdan Guskov (17-3-0) of Dukent, Uzbekistan. Guskov is riding a wave of momentum and aims to cement his place in the division’s upper echelon.
- In the flyweight division, Ramazan Temirov (19-3-0), fighting out of Karshi, Uzbekistan, squares off against Kazakhstan’s Asu Almabayev (21-3-0) in a clash of top regional talents with global ambitions.
- Ibo Aslan (14-2-0) from Istanbul, Turkey, will lock horns with Las Vegas standout Billy Elekana (7-2-0) in what promises to be a thrilling light heavyweight tilt full of knockout potential.
Elevate Your UFC Experience
For fans looking to take their fight night to the next level, VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. These exclusive packages offer premium seating, VIP weigh-in access, all-inclusive hospitality, and unforgettable meet-and-greets with UFC athletes. Visit UFCVIP.com for full details and to secure your premium experience.
With a blockbuster headliner, stacked card, and the electric atmosphere of Yas Island, UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi is shaping up to be one of the year’s standout events. Be there live to witness the action as Robert Whittaker and Reinier de Ridder collide in a middleweight showdown for the ages.
