Abu Dhabi to host UFC Fight Night 2025 with Whittaker-De Ridder showdown
Explosive light heavyweight and flyweight match-ups confirmed for Yas Island card
ABU DHABI: UFC is back in the UAE capital this summer with a stacked fight card headlined by an explosive middleweight clash between Australia’s Robert Whittaker and Dutch standout Reinier de Ridder.
Set to take place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island on Saturday, 26th July, UFC Fight Night 2025 marks the promotion’s highly anticipated return to the UAE capital.
Whittaker, currently ranked No.5 in the UFC middleweight division, enters the octagon with a 27-8-0 record and a decorated résumé featuring wins over elite contenders like Yoel Romero, Jared Cannonier and Marvin Vettori. A former champion known for his sharp striking and tactical brilliance, Whittaker is looking to bounce back with a dominant performance.
Across from him will stand Reinier de Ridder (20-2-0), a grappling ace from the Netherlands who has quickly surged into the spotlight since joining the UFC in late 2024. De Ridder, fighting out of Breda, stunned fans with his recent victory over Bo Nickal, handing the American his first career loss. His fast rise through the ranks and submission-heavy style set the stage for a fascinating clash of styles in Abu Dhabi.
More fights announced
Supporting the headliner, the fight card includes several high-stakes match-ups. In the light heavyweight division, Russia’s Nikita Krylov (30-10-0) will go head-to-head with Bogdan Guskov (17-3-0) of Uzbekistan. Krylov, a veteran of the division, will need to hold off the fast-charging Guskov, who is riding a wave of momentum.
The flyweights will also bring speed and skill to the night, as Ramazan Temirov (19-3-0) of Uzbekistan faces Asu Almabayev (21-3-0) from Kazakhstan. With both men known for their dynamic movement and finishing ability, this bout is likely to be fast-paced and unpredictable.
Mainstay in Abu Dhabi
UFC has become a staple on Abu Dhabi’s sporting calendar, with 20 events held in the UAE since 2010. Last year saw a landmark achievement, as the capital hosted two official UFC events for the first time: Fight Night in August and UFC 308 in October. This year is poised to follow suit.
UFC Fight Night 2025 will be the first of two expected events in Abu Dhabi, with the second larger pay-per-view anticipated to return to Etihad Arena later in the year. The 2024 Fight Night featured a memorable clash between Umar Nurmagomedov and Cory Sandhagen, watched cage-side by UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
With tickets starting from Dh345, fans can expect another unforgettable night of combat sports when UFC takes over Yas Island this July.