Tomorrow the Octagon lands inside Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, for a first-time clash between former UFC middleweight king Robert Whittaker and former ONE double-champ Reinier de Ridder. The undercard loads up on talking points: Petr Yan returns against knockout artist Marcus McGhee, Brazil’s Carlos Leal debuts on the main card, and an all-Brazil strawweight showdown pits Amanda Ribas against Tabatha Ricci. U.S. fans can catch the main card live on ABC / ESPN+; in Brazil it streams on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN 4.
Start Times & Broadcast Info
| Stage | Brazil (BRT) | USA (ET / PT) | UK (BST) | Where to Watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims | 13:00 | 12 pm ET / 9 am PT | 17:00 | UFC Fight Pass / ESPN 4 |
| Main Card | 16:00 | 3 pm ET / 12 pm PT | 20:00 | ABC (US) / ESPN+ / UFC Fight Pass |
Official Main Card
| Division | Match-up |
|---|---|
| Middleweight – Main Event | Robert Whittaker vs Reinier de Ridder |
| Bantamweight | Petr Yan vs Marcus McGhee |
| Middleweight | Sharabutdin Magomedov vs Marc-André Barriault |
| Flyweight | Asu Almabayev vs Jose Ochoa |
| Light Heavyweight | Nikita Krylov vs Bogdan Guskov |
Prelims to Watch
| Division | Bout |
|---|---|
| Bantamweight | Bryce Mitchell vs Said Nurmagomedov |
| Welterweight | Muslim Salikhov vs Carlos Leal |
| Bantamweight | Davey Grant vs Da’Mon Blackshear |
| Strawweight (F) | Amanda Ribas vs Tabatha Ricci |
| Light Heavyweight | İbo Aslan vs Billy Elekana |
| Featherweight | Mohammad Yahya vs Steven Nguyen |
| Heavyweight | Martin Buday vs Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida |
Red-Hot Storylines
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Whittaker’s Re-Ascent – The Aussie eyes another title shot after dispatching Dricus Du Plessis. A dominant win keeps him firmly in the conversation.
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De Ridder’s Litmus Test – Grappling wizard moves straight into UFC deep water: elite BJJ vs. top-three takedown defense.
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Petr Yan Under Pressure – On a two-fight slide, the former champ faces McGhee, whose last seven wins all came by KO/TKO.
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Brazilian Double Feature – PFL standout Carlos Leal draws “King of Kung Fu” Salikhov; Ribas-Ricci guarantees a Brazilian entry into the strawweight Top 10.
Current Betting Odds*
| Match-up | Favorite | Line |
|---|---|---|
| Whittaker vs De Ridder | Whittaker | 1.62 (–160) |
| Yan vs McGhee | Yan | 1.50 (–200) |
| Magomedov vs Barriault | Magomedov | 1.40 (–250) |
*Average from major U.S. sportsbooks, 24 h before the event.
Rapid-Fire Picks
| Fight | Prediction | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Whittaker vs De Ridder | Whittaker by decision | Volume striking + takedown defense; Over 2.5 rounds popular prop. |
| Yan vs McGhee | Yan by late KO | Survives early storm, finds timing from R2 onward. |
| Ribas vs Ricci | Potential FOTN | High-level grappling & improved stand-up on both sides. |
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What’s at Stake?
| Fighter(s) | Implications |
|---|---|
| Robert Whittaker | A win = one fight away from another middleweight title shot. |
| Reinier de Ridder | Upset victory fast-tracks him into immediate contender status. |
| Petr Yan | Must win to stay inside bantamweight Top 10. |
| Ribas / Ricci | Winner breaks into strawweight Top 10 and eyes Namajunas or Xiaonan. |
Conclusion
Star power, cross-promotion champions making their UFC debuts, and three high-stakes Brazilian bouts make UFC Abu Dhabi: Whittaker vs De Ridder a can’t-miss stop on the 2025 combat-sports calendar. If you crave technical MMA with real finishing potential, set your alarm for Saturday afternoon and don’t blink.
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