Reinier de Ridder and Robert Whittaker had the world of MMA at the edge of their seats at the UFC Abu Dhabi main event on Saturday.
In the end, it was De Ridder who won the victory with a pair of scores of 48-47. In the headline match, both fighters showed off their skills, whittaker hurt De Ridder badly with an overhand in round three, and de Ridder tore his knees into his body, suffocating his grappling and draining Whittaker’s gas tank.
Neither fighter found many advantages in the Championship round. DeRidder pushed Whittaker against the fence in pursuit of Takedowns, focusing on maintaining energy in the hopes of Whittaker finding a gust of wind that will change the battle. When the final bell rang, everyone guessed the scorecard.
Social media fighters praised both fighters and made their own take on the score.
Check out the reaction to the main event at UFC Abu Dhabi below.
Congratulations to RDR, it was a great fight. Next is the title shot.
It’s a long way, but we keep improving, we get better, and we’ll have a rematch one day.
– Bo Nickal (@nobickal) July 26, 2025
A good victory…but the next thing to call the title shot is at least a fantasy.
-Caio Borralho (@borralhocaio) July 26, 2025
Whittaker slowed down and paid the price
-Caio Borralho (@borralhocaio) July 26, 2025
I got a 48-47 from Whittaker.
Who got it?
– Brett Johns (@36johns) July 26, 2025
I think a good fight RDR won
– Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) July 26, 2025
With respect, I knock out the de ridder 3 x wich round. Congratulations on your victory today despite a bad fight.
– Paulo Costa (@borrachinhamma) July 26, 2025
I thought Dorikas was the strangest fighting style in the UFC, but De Ridder does everything with him to compete head-to-head.
– Paulo Costa (@borrachinhamma) July 26, 2025