UFC Abu Dhabi: Whittaker vs De Ridder – Can ‘The Reaper’ cut down ‘The Dutch Knight?’

One of the most impressive new contenders to emerge in the UFC’s middleweight division will test his credentials against one of the all-time greats of the weight class as the Netherlands’ Reinier De Ridder steps up to face former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker.

The pair will do battle in a five-round main event clash at UFC Abu Dhabi, in a fight that has major championship implications for both men.

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For Whitaker, it’s the chance to prove that he’s still among the division’s elite at 185 pounds. For De Ridder, meanwhile, it’s an opportunity to bridge the gap from dangerous ranked contender to a bona fide championship challenger-in-waiting.

Tale of the tape: Robert Whittaker vs Reinier De Ridder

Robert Whittaker: Can ‘Bobby Knuckles’ bounce back into contention?

Robert Whittaker has always been in and around the top five in the UFC’s 185-pound division. And this weekend he returns to action in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi looking to bounce back into form.

After picking up back-to-back victories over Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov, Whittaker faced Khamzat Chimaev in a title eliminator at UFC 308.

Whittaker was overwhelmed in that fight as he was taken down and finished with a crushing face crank submission that left Whittaker with a broken jaw and several displaced teeth.

Now, on his return, Whittaker faces another big, strong, dominant grappler in the form of Reinier De Ridder, and the big question is whether the former UFC world champion has made the necessary adjustments to his game to cope with another high-pressure grappler.

If he has, he could find himself back in the middleweight championship mix. But if not, he runs the risk of being cast in the role of divisional gatekeeper in his next fights. 

Reinier De Ridder: Can former ONE champion gatecrash the UFC title picture?

Reinier De Ridder knows what it takes to capture championship gold - he’s done it in two weight classes in ONE Championship. But the UFC is a different ball game, and he knows he’ll have to defeat a string of elite-level opponents en route to a title shot.

So far, he’s been super impressive inside the Octagon - three fights, three wins, and three finishes have seen De Ridder establish himself as a legitimate threat to the middleweight elite. And in Robert Whittaker, he’s facing one of he very best this weekend.

De Ridder submitted submission specialist Gerald Meerschaert, then tapped Kevin Holland. But it was his win over hyped prospect Bo Nickal that put the division on notice as he finished the former Penn State wrestling standout with strikes to go 3-0 inside the Octagon.

If he can repeat the feat against someone as respected and tenured as Whittaker, that will be a huge statement. 

Robert Whittaker vs Reinier De Ridder: The key factors

De Ridder has seen the blueprint to defeat Whittaker, courtesy of Chimaev. All he needs to do on Saturday night is repeat it.

He has the skill set and the fight IQ to do it, and while he isn’t as explosive as Chimaev on the feet, he has enough stand-up ability to get respect on the feet and create openings to close the distance and attempt takedowns.

However, Whittaker has the better footwork, the crisper, more powerful striking arsenal, and a distinct speed advantage. If the Aussie can keep the fight on the feet, he should have a huge skill and power advantage, too.

The five-round duration shouldn’t be an issue for either man - they’re both seasoned championship-level fighters who have competed in plenty of five-round matchups in their careers. So it all comes down to distance management and control of where the fight plays out.

If Whittaker weathers the inevitable early charge from De Ridder, he has the striking to hurt the Dutchman on the feet.

Conversely, if De Ridder can get the fight to the floor, he has all the tools at his disposal to finish Whittaker and claim the biggest scalp of his UFC career.

FIRST’s top tip for Robert Whittaker vs Reinier De Ridder

This fight feels like a virtual coin-flip. De Ridder is in outstanding form, while Whittaker has the established pedigree in the division. 

Some may see Chimaev’s win over Whittaker as an easy reason to justify taking De Ridder to do the same, and that certainly makes sense. But the fact that Whittaker has had that loss means that he knows exactly where he needed to tighten up his game.

That, plus the fact that he’s going to be doubly determined to put things right, makes him a very solid bet here. And with both men showing durability and conditioning non their past fights, the fight going to the judges seems like a reasonable bet, too.

Put them together, and the 33/10 on a Whittaker win by decision looks like the best value outcome here.

PICK: ROBERT WHITTAKER TO WIN BY DECISION @ 33/10 (BETMGM)

Extra tips

Former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle at 135 pounds, but the Russian remains one of the very best bantamweights on the planet.

Fighting relatively close to home - Abu Dhabi has become something of a second hole for Russian fighters - Yan looks all set for a big performance as he looks to deliver a statement to the rear of the division. 

His opponent Marcus McGhee is tough and talented, but this looks like a bit too much, too early for the American, and a lop-sided decision win for “No Mercy” looks like a solid bet here.

PICK: PETR YAN TO WIN BY DECISION @ 4/6 (BETMGM) 

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