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Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera Staff

De Ridder beats Whittaker in split decision at UFC Abu Dhabi

Reinier de Ridder of the Netherlands celebrates after winning the middleweight UFC bout against Australia's Robert Whittaker on Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates [Fatima Shbair/AP]

Reinier de Ridder secured the biggest win of his Octagon career at UFC Abu Dhabi, narrowly securing a hard-fought split decision over former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker at the Etihad Arena in the United Arab Emirates.

De Ridder (21-2) earned his third win of 2025 by defeating the Australian by split decision; two of the three judges scored the 84kg (185-pound) bout 48-47 for de Ridder, while a third had it 48-47 for Whittaker.

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