| UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The poster for UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder | ||||
| Promotion | Ultimate Fighting Championship | |||
| Date | July 26, 2025 | |||
| Venue | Etihad Arena | |||
| City | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |||
| Attendance | Not announced[1] | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
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]
Background
editThe 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
edit| Main card (ABC / ESPN+) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Middleweight | Reinier de Ridder | def. | Robert Whittaker | Decision (split) (47–48, 48–47, 48–47) | 5 | 5:00 | |
| Bantamweight | Petr Yan | def. | Marcus McGhee | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Middleweight | Sharabutdin Magomedov | def. | Marc-André Barriault | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Flyweight | Asu Almabayev | def. | José Ochoa | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Bogdan Guskov | def. | Nikita Krylov | KO (punches) | 1 | 4:18 | |
| Preliminary card (ESPN / ESPN+) | |||||||
| Bantamweight | Bryce Mitchell | def. | Said Nurmagomedov | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Muslim Salikhov | def. | Carlos Leal Miranda | KO (punch) | 1 | 0:42 | |
| Bantamweight | Davey Grant | def. | Da'Mon Blackshear | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Women's Strawweight | Tabatha Ricci | def. | Amanda Ribas | TKO (elbow and punches) | 2 | 2:59 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Billy Elekana | def. | İbo Aslan | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Featherweight | Steven Nguyen | def. | Mohammad Yahya | TKO (eye injury) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Heavyweight | Martin Buday | def. | Marcus Buchecha | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
Bonus awards
editThe following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[12]
- Fight of the Night: Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Marc-André Barriault
- Performance of the Night: Muslim Salikhov and Steven Nguyen
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Staff (2025-03-20). "UFC announces return to Abu Dhabi for Fight Night event in July". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Staff (2025-06-18). "Aaron Pico gets unbeaten Movsar Evloev for UFC debut in Abu Dhabi". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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)
- ^ 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.
- ^ Jay Pettry (2025-05-08). "UFC Abu Dhabi adds Asu Almabayev vs. Ramazonbek Temirov at flyweight". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
- ^ Chris Taylor (2025-07-26). "UFC Abu Dhabi Bonus Report: Muslim Salikhov one of four POTN winners". bjpenn.com. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
