UFC Abu Dhabi: Whittaker vs De Ridder Full Card Analysis
Combat Sports

UFC Abu Dhabi: Whittaker vs De Ridder Full Card Analysis

July 26, 2025
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UFC Abu Dhabi: Whittaker vs De Ridder – 7.26.2025 – Fight Predictions and Analysis

Welcome to our collaborative coverage of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi: Whittaker vs de Ridder. We have a great event on tap today here in the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Be sure to check out our full reasoning for every pick as our records will not reflect confidence in each selection. We will be picking every fight, but likely only recommend betting on a select few.

Current Record

  • Anthony: 181-107-1 (Last Year 321-191-0, 63%)
  • Nick: 186-102-1 (Last Year 316-196-0, 62%)

*Fight odds were last updated from Bet99 on 7-25-2025 at 7pm EST

Preliminary Card- Starts 12:00pm EST

Marcus Buchecha -320 vs Martin Buday +250

  • Anthony: The card begins today with a heavyweight fight between Martin Buday and Marcus Buchecha. This is the highly anticipated debut for Buchecha who is considered one of the greatest grapplers in the history of BJJ. He is a 13-time IBJJF world champion and 2-time ADCC world champion. Buchecha received his black belt in 2010 after winning his first IBJJF no-gi title. He is now a fourth degree blackbelt. A lot of UFC heavyweights lack grappling fundamentals so Buchecha is poised to have a strong run in this division. Buday poses an interesting test due to his size and grappling ability, but he has not yet been tested in terms of his own defense. He normally uses his size to lean on opponents and rack control time against the fence. I expect Buday will cede his first takedown in this fight against a superior wrestler. Buchecha does very well passing to various positions and I think he will find the submission against Buday. I think the only win condition for the Russian is surviving to round three and then unloading with his offensive striking. Marcus Buchecha by Round Two Submission
  • Nick: Marcus Buchecha will be making his debut here, with a 5-1 professional record at 35 years old. While it’s true his MMA resume is relatively brief, he’s an extremely talented and decorated BJJ player. Buchecha is a member of the IBJJF Hall of Fame, as a multiple-time World BJJ and ADCC champion. As a fourth degree blackbelt in BJJ under Rodrigo Cavaca , his offensive grappling ability is as dangerous as anyone if he can take his fights to the mat. He’s been fighting against a decent level of competition since he’s transitioned to MMA, securing all five of his professional wins for a respectable promotion in ONE FC. His striking isn’t terrible and it seems he has decent durability on the feet, but he’s looking to take almost all of his opponents to the mat both early and often. Martin Buday is primarily a wrestler with excellent ground and pound ability, but he is also totally content to play out fights at striking range. He has solid footwork and decent power for his frame, but he is sometimes slow and plodding and it seems he’s often too content to wait for fights to come to him. He is 6-1 in the UFC and 15-2 professionally, but his UFC wins have mostly come against fighters who have since been cut from the promotion. Buday has a 100% takedown defense in the UFC, but he really hasn’t faced a grappler on Buchecha’s level. I expect he’s going to have issues keeping this fight standing. I’m fairly confident in the favorite. Marcus Buchecha by Round One Submission

Steven Nguyen -400 vs Mohammad Yahya +300

  • Anthony: Next is a fight at featherweight between Steven Nguyen and Mohammad Yahya. This is a rather low-level matchup and I am not confident predicting a winner. Yahya is 0-2 in the UFC, likely only holding a roster spot to compete on these cards in Abu Dhabi. He represents the United Arab Emirates and fights out of Dubai. His skillset is extremely limited and I do not think he will win many fights against this caliber competition. Nguyen may be the one featherweight that Yahya could actually compete against. He has very poor defensive awareness and reckless style leaving him in position to be hit. Yahya could land some clean attacks kickboxing, but over the course of this fight I expect Nguyen to land the better technical combos. He has faster hands than Yahya and more power as well. There is no reason to bet Nguyen at -400 but I think he is the rightful favorite for sure. This matchup will likely end by knockout one way or another. I do not expect either man to grapple much here. Steven Nguyen by Round Two KO
  • Nick: Steven Nguyen is 9-1 professionally, with four of his wins coming via KO and three coming via submission. Nguyen is a lengthy striker who does a decent job striking behind his jab. He can generate power off his back foot, and his cardio and durability have been strengths to this point in his career. He suffered his first career loss his last time out when he took on Jarno Errens, and he’s been out of action since that fight back in March of 2024. Mohammad Yahya is the first fighter from the United Arab Emirates to make it in the UFC. Prior to his debut he had been fighting regionally for a respectable promotion in UAE Warriors. He is 12-5 professionally, but 0-2 in the UFC. Mohammad Yahya prefers to stand and swing on his feet, but he’s hittable in exchanges and he is generally more than willing to sacrifice defense for offense. The line feels a bit wide here as Nguyen is still somewhat untested, but he should have a speed advantage and it seems he’ll be able to mostly pick Yahya apart at range. Nguyen fights out of a solid camp via Fortis MMA, and I expect he’ll be well prepared to bounce back here against a beatable opponent in Yahya. Steven Nguyen by Round Two KO

Ibo Aslan -280 vs Billy Elekana +220

  • Anthony: This fight comes at light heavyweight between Billy Elekana and Ibo Aslan. It is a rather volatile fight with both men tough to trust at the betting window. Aslan was defeated in his most recent fight, getting taken down and submitted by Ion Cutelaba in round one. It is now clearly evident that Aslan lacks takedown defense and strong submission defense. Elekana tends to mix in his own grappling making him a live underdog in this matchup. In those exchanges in the clinch, Elekana could overpower Aslan and drag him into positions that he cannot defend. Nonetheless this fight will start standing and Aslan will likely land the better offense early. These two will engage very early on from opposite stances on the feet. Elekana is sloppy in terms of his defense and a power puncher like Aslan will be hard to handle. Elekana was also finished in his most recent matchup six months ago. He struggles in terms of his recovery and often Elekana fades as he fights into rounds two and three. Aslan is not worth betting at this moneyline. His knockout prop is available at -150 odds. Ibo Aslan by Round One KO
  • Nick: Ibo Aslan is 14-2 professionally, with all of his wins coming via KO. He’s 2-1 in the UFC, most recently suffering a loss to a tough out in Ion Cutelaba. Aslan is an athletic and dangerous offensive striker, but his approach is far from technical as he leaves himself open to be countered in exchanges. At 29-years old, it’s expected he’ll continue to improve. Still, his defensive grappling and cardio both seem likely to be weaknesses more than they are strengths at this point in his career. As dangerous as he is, he’s faced a relatively low level of opponent by UFC standards, so it’s tough to project he’s the type of prospect who should be expected to climb the rankings at light heavyweight. Elkena is 7-2 professionally and 30-years old. He is coming off a loss in his UFC debut to Bogdan Guskov, a fight he took on short notice. Elekena seems decent everywhere, but he lacks finishing ability and his cardio seems like it will be more of a weakness than a strength at this level. In this particular match-up he does have a clear path to victory if he can take Aslan down consistently, but even if he’s able here it seems likely he’ll have issues in keeping him down. Aslan is overrated so this is a low confidence play, but I do expect he can find a finish here in front of his home crowd. Ibo Aslan by Round Two KO

Amanda Ribas -200 vs Tabatha Ricci +160

  • Anthony: Next is a women’s strawweight matchup between Amanda Ribas and Tabatha Ricci. This is a very tough bout to predict between blackbelt jiu jitsu practitioners. Both are very confident when their fights hit the mat and I am sure we will be treated to high-level exchanges between these two athletes. This fight is likely going to go to the judge’s scorecards but Ribas is the more dangerous finisher and a potent submission threat. Ricci will still engage Ribas here in the grappling and I expect her to secure takedowns more easily if she does decide to shoot. Ribas has a five-inch reach advantage in this matchup against Ricci. Normally Ribas gets picked on for her offensive boxing but she is actually going to be favored here in a pure striking match. Her long jab and effective combination punches should give her the edge when scoring close rounds. I’d rather bet on the underdog here just because it seems like a 50/50 matchup. Ricci has been the more active fighter recently and seems to have more fight left in her than Ribas does. Ribas has been facing very strong competition but she is still 1-3 in her previous four appearances. Tabatha Ricci by Decision
  • Nick: Amanda Ribas is a fan-favorite as an aggressive fighter with outstanding offensive grappling ability. She is a black belt in BJJ, with four of her twelve professional victories coming by way of submission. Her striking continues to improve, but she’s very hittable in exchanges and the strength of her chin is questionable at best. Tabatha Ricci has solid cardio and can fight at a very fast pace. She’s well-rounded, but her BJJ and offensive grappling ability is certainly her most refined skill. Her wrestling and striking continue to show considerable improvement in each of her fights. As a result of her recent success, it seems the UFC is starting to put their marketing machine behind her. These are two very similar fighters, but Ribas is a bit bigger, stronger, and more technically advanced in both her striking and her grappling. The value does seem to be on the Ricci side here, but I expect the favorite can do enough to pull out a win on the scorecards. Amanda Ribas by Decision

Da’Mon Blackshear -350 vs Davey Grant +280

  • Anthony: The next fight is a scrap at bantamweight between Davey Grant and Da’Mon Blackshear. At 39 years old Grant continues to truck along and wipe out exciting prospects on their way up the ranks. He was victorious in his last outing versus Ramon Taveras, landing an impressive total 147 significant strikes. Grant is always going to fight hard for fifteen minutes and challenge opponents with pressure. He lands great body-head combinations and threatens with a great left hook. Blackshear is known for his impressive grappling skills which will likely shine here facing Grant. Blackshear is a black belt in jiu jitsu. He boasts a remarkable record of 11 wins by submission. He scored a kimura victory against Cody Gibson in a fight earlier this year. I like what I have seen out of Blackshear lately and his activity is a huge green flag as well. His decision making has been improving and lately Blackshear has also showcased better patience. He is an opportunistic grappler, snatching up submissions quickly once they are presented. It seems like the most likely result for this matchup with Grant already being submitted four times before. Blackshear should dominate early with his wrestling and strength in clinch positions. Da’Mon Blackshear by Round Two Submission
  • Nick: Da’Mon Blackshear is a former Cage Fury FC Bantamweight Champion. He’s 5-3-1 in the UFC, most recently coming off a decision win over Alatengheili. He is fairly well-rounded, but primarily a grappler. He’s dangerous on the mat offensively with a BJJ black belt, and eleven of his seventeen professional wins have come via submission. He does a decent job striking at range, but his ability to string together combinations is fairly limited. Additionally, his durability has to be in some degree of question as he was brutally KO’d by Montel Jackson in July of 2024. Davey Grant is a well-rounded fighter who manages to outmuscle most of his lower level opponents at bantamweight. His striking is somewhat unconventional, but he carries surprising power. He has a solid wrestling base and does a good job in the ground and pound department if he can take his opponent to the mat. He does a good job moving out of range after throwing combinations and his footwork is solid in spite of his unconventional style. The one knock on Grant is that he is entering the twilight of his career at 39-years old. He’s slowing down in general, and his reaction time seems to have turned from a strength to a weakness. The line is wide here as Grant is the better striker and Blackshear has durability issues. That being said, Grant has been submitted in most of his professional losses and Blackshear is at his best when he leans on his grappling. Da’Mon Blackshear by Round Three Submission

Carlos Leal -500 vs Muslim Salikhov +350

  • Anthony: Carlos Leal will face Muslim Salikhov next in a bout at welterweight. Of course the King of Kung Fu finds his way into fighting here in Abu Dhabi. The elite striker continues to age like fine wine and win fights by knockout as he has always done. He was awarded Performance of the Night in his most recent matchup versus Song Kenan. It will be exciting to see how his Sanda style fairs against a higher volume opponent the likes of Calos Leal. While this should be a competitive striking matchup, Leal will likely lead the dance here and control the center of the ring. Salikhov will need to find a knockdown to have any chance at all. He is known for his highlight reel finishes but Leal is also a tough opponent to put away. I have really not been impressed much with Leal’s skillset but he is a strong and durable threat to stand across from in a fight. Salikhov will use explosive attacks to keep distance here and limit Leal’s forward movement. He has the advantage in this fight in terms of kicking power and punching power. Although Salikhov is starting to look more his age I still think this is a good value bet here at +350 odds. Muslim Salikhov by Round Two KO
  • Nick: Prior to debuting with the UFC, Carlos Leal made a splash with the PFL where he broke into the welterweight tournament off a win on their Challenger Series, and eventually advanced to the semi-finals. Leal is 22-6 professionally, with eleven of his professional wins coming via KO. Primarily a striker, Leal is more than willing to eat shots to return them. He has one-shot knockout power, but his kill-or-be-killed style makes him a dangerous fighter to back as a heavy favorite. He is 1-1 in the UFC, most recently securing a dominant KO win over an aging vet in Alex Morono. He’s taking on another aging vet here, but a more dangerous one this time against a creative striker in Muslim Salikhov. Muslim Salikhov is an excellent striker with a solid chin and a lot of power behind his shots. He’s a kickboxer and fairly one-dimensional, but he’s good enough on the feet to hang with almost anyone in the division. He throws a wide-range of diverse strikes, including a lot of spinning attacks and high kicks. He recently changed camps to American Top Team to focus more on his wrestling. He’s still dangerous offensively, but there is no denying that he has been slowing down at 41-years old, as one of the older fighters in the division. Salikhov is the better technical striker here, but he’s far past his prime. Leal is beast athletically and I expect he can pressure and then overpower Salikhov here after a competitive fight early. Carlos Leal by Round Two KO

Bryce Mitchell -140 vs Said Nurmagomedov +115

  • Anthony: The featured prelim is a fight at bantamweight between Said Nurmagomedov and Bryce Mitchell. Here Mitchell is moving down to 135 pounds after always competing up at featherweight. It appears that Mitchell made weight without issue, but I am not sure I support the decision. After a bad knockout loss in his most recent fight, cutting more weight could prove bad for his chin. Mitchell could also struggle to manage his cardio in extended grappling scrambles. Nurmagomedov has enough tools when grappling to stymie the offensive attack of Mitchell. I do not think Mitchell will win more than one round here by controlling position on top of Nurmagomedov. The Russian has always trained his own grappling too and he should do well staying upright here today. Nurmagomedov has a distinct advantage striking in this matchup against Mitchell. He is much quicker with better combinations and much more fluid attacks. Mitchell’s striking has always looked clunky and I do not think he is a serious power threat here moving down in weight. This is a bad matchup for Mitchell in his 135 pound debut and I cannot support him as a betting favorite. Said Nurmagomedov by Decision
  • Nick: Bryce Mitchell will be moving down a weight class here, after he was brutally finished in two of his last three fights at featherweight. His striking continues to improve, but there is no denying his game plan is almost always to wrestle and grapple both early and often. Mitchell is a talented wrestler with solid BJJ offensively and excellent cardio. He can fight at a fast pace, and he can find openings on the feet when his opponents are overly concerned that he’ll be looking to take them down. Unlike many of the other top Russian fighters, Said Nurmagomedov is primarily a striker. He’s a talented kickboxer who throws a wide range of effective spinning attacks. He’s certainly dangerous on the mat as well, but he’s found most of his success at the UFC level picking his opponents apart at range. As talented as he is, he’s coming off a loss to Vinicius Oliveira. He’s been relatively inactive since he’s made his debut, which has halted his development as a once highly regarded prospect. This is an extremely volatile match-up with Mitchell moving down a weight class. He should have a cardio advantage here, but Nurmagomedov is the better striker by an extremely wide margin. A low confidence play, but I prefer taking a shot on the value of the underdog. Said Nurmagomedov by Decision

Main Card- Starts 3:00pm EST

Nikita Krylov -200 vs Bogdan Guskov +160

  • Anthony: Opening the main card are light heavyweights Bogdan Guskov and Nikita Krylov. This should be a very exciting matchup between these two, resulting in a finish before the final horn. Krylov is a very technically skilled fighter, trained to strike well at distance and really impose his will grappling. Krylov has always been at his best when executing early takedowns and passing guard quickly from top position. The gap in skill here grappling seems very large, making Krylov a clear betting favorite. However, Krylov is tough to rely on and coming off a knockout loss in his most recent fight. Dominick Reyes KOd him via counter left just three months ago at UFC 314. Guskov possesses that same power and will threaten Krylov if he can connect here with his hands. Though Guskov has not fought great competition, he has won by stoppage in his last three bouts. He is active and very aggressive early in his fights, often a key to winning in this division especially. If Krylov does not drown Guskov with his wrestling here early, I expect the Uzbek to win a dominant fight. He is a good bet as the underdog here entering this matchup with great momentum. Bogdan Guskov by Round One KO
  • Nick: Nikita Krylov is more than willing to eat shots to throw them. He’s a talented kickboxer with extremely powerful kicks. If he can take fights to the mat he’s also an aggressive offensive grappler, with sixteen of his thirty professional wins coming by way of submission. Krylov enters this match-up coming off an ugly KO loss to Dominick Reyes. Prior to that loss, he had strung together a solid three fight winning streak. Bogdan Guskov is 17-3 professionally, with fourteen of those seventeen wins coming via KO. He is 2-2 in the UFC, most recently securing a win via KO over Billy Elekena. Guskov is a powerful striker, but his aggressive style makes him a vulnerable target in extended exchanges. He seems to have a decent BJJ game, but we really haven’t seen his grappling tested against the top half of this division. These are two fighters that can finish a fight in an instant, but I do see Krylov as the more dangerous and dynamic of the two. Another low confidence play, but I’m siding with the favorite. Krylov is the better grappler with the better overall process. Nikita Krylov by Round One Submission

Asu Almabaev -120 vs Jose Ochoa +100

  • Anthony: Next is a good bout at flyweight between Jose Ochoa and Asu Almabaev. This is a matchup between striker and grappler in the simplest terms. Almabaev took a loss in his most recent appearance but that was a huge step-up in competition, facing Manel Kape. Prior to that fight Almabaev was on a 17 fight winning streak. I expect him to find his way back into the win column by beating the young Ochoa here tonight. Ochoa is known for his aggressive striking with seven wins coming by way of knockout. His diverse striking arsenal include kicks, elbows and plenty of attacks with his feet off the ground. He is your typical young athlete from Chute Boxe Diego Lima. Ochoa will use explosive muay thai attacks in an attempt to get ahead. His best round will be the first as he engages Almabaev and perhaps stuffs the initial takedown attempts. I think Almabaev will fight smart in this matchup, taking down Ochoa as many times as needed. His distinct wrestling advantage makes him the rightful betting favorite in my opinion. Asu Almabaev by Decision
  • Nick: Prior to his loss to Manel Kape back in March, Almabaev had strung together four consecutive wins under the UFC banner. As a flyweight, he regularly trains with top welterweight contender, Shavkat Rakhmonov. He’s well-rounded with a solid wrestling base and impressive durability and cardio. He is 13-3 professionally, and widely considered a prospect to keep an eye on. In a crowded flyweight division. He’s well-rounded, but most of his success comes in forcing his opponents to grapple. Jose Ochoa is coming off an impressive win over Cody Durden which came back in June, and he’s jumping into this match-up here on short notice as a replacement for Ramazan Temirov. Ochoa is primarily a striker as it seems he mostly prefers to stand and trade. He trains out of Chute Box in Brazil, a camp known for their aggressive sparring sessions and their kill-or-be-killed style. He has solid durability and footwork, and his aggressive fighting pace makes him a tough opponent for anyone to handle. Ochoa is a beast, but taking this fight on short notice feels like a tall order. Almabaev is a top level wrestler and he has the cardio to rinse and repeat takedown attempts for the bulk of three rounds. Asu Almabaev by Decision

Shara Magomedov -650 vs Marc-Andre Barriault +425

  • Anthony: The featured bout is a middleweight fight between Shara Magomedov and Marc-Andre Barriault. This is a good opportunity for Magomedov to bounce back with another highlight reel victory. He was bested against Michael Venum Page in his last performance, struggling to keep pace with his offensive output. Magomedov is at his best when he is flowing comfortably and letting go a variety of attacks. He is as elite a kickboxer as there is, throwing his lead leg as often as a jab and connecting at all different levels. Magomedov is going to be countering more in this matchup and catching Barriault as he enters into range. Barriault only fights in one manner, moving forward and constantly pressuring opponents with his high pace. Magomedov will probably land a great knee or kick here early, hurting Barriault and ultimately swaying the fight. Barriault is too reckless with his own boxing offense and he no longer has the chin that he had once been known for. Magomedov should impress here by landing the much more precise strikes throughout.Shara Magomedov by Round One KO
  • Nick: Sharaputdin Magomedov is an explosive striker, extremely dangerous both at range and in the clinch. He’s a competent wrestler who can dominate in top position, but there is no denying the fact he is most content to stand-and-trade on the feet. Magomedov is very light on his feet. He’s constantly bouncing in the cage and while his strikes can be somewhat untraditional he fights out of a muay-thai stance. He is 15-1 professionally, with twelve of those wins coming via KO. He is notably coming off his first career loss, a fight in which he was mostly dominated via decision by Michael Venom Page. As gifted as he is offensively, his defensive grappling is questionable at best and his cardio seems like it may not be on par with other top contenders on the roster. Marc-Andre Barriault fights at a torrid pace. He has decent power and does a good job putting pressure on his opponents. His durability allows him to easily close distance and while his striking isn’t all that technically sound, he’s powerful enough to win exchanges on the feet. His greatest attribute is certainly his cardio, as many of his victories come via taking damage easy and waiting for his opponents to drain their gas tanks then taking over late. As durable as he’s been for most of his career, it is worth mentioning he suffered KO losses in two of his last three fights. The line if far too wide here as Magomedov seems overrated by the market. Barriault has a path to victory if he can lean on his wrestling, but it seems more likely than not that Magomedov will eventually find an opening to secure another win by knockout. Shara Magomedov by Round Two KO

Petr Yan -400 vs Marcus McGhee +300

  • Anthony: The co-main event is a bantamweight matchup between Marcus McGhee and Petr Yan. While McGhee has earned this opportunity to fight up the rankings a matchup against Yan seems to be too much too soon. McGhee has trained previously with Sean O’Malley, opponent of Petr Yan. It would be surprising to see McGhee find any more success than Sean did striking against him. McGhee should really attempt to wrestle here rather than brawling with such a skilled boxer. Yan consistently employs pressure and attacks opponents using his elite muay thai. He effectively utilizes his lead hand to manage distance, disrupt opponents’ vision and set up more meaningful shots. Yan is particularly dangerous in the pocket where he can unleash vicious combinations and body shots. McGhee would much prefer to fight at kickboxing range where Yan is at the end of his punches. I think Yan can hurt McGhee in this fight by switching stances often and exploiting his openings. Yan’s patience and persistence normally end up giving him the edge in five round fights. He needs to start very quickly here to not drop round one against McGhee. I do not want to risk betting Yan here at -400 in a bout only scheduled for three rounds. Petr Yan by Decision
  • Nick: Petr Yan, a former UFC bantamweight champion, is a sniper on the feet. He eats some shots to set up bigger ones, but his combinations are what make him so dangerous. He does an excellent job weathering early pressure from his opponents as he processes their timing and habits. He takes in this information and then uses it to trap his opponents and exploit them with his own devastating offense. Petr Yan is one of the more dangerous and pure strikers in the division. He throws powerful leg kicks, a snappy jab, and he does an excellent job stringing together lengthy combinations. His defensive grappling is better than average, and he’s coming off back-to-back wins for the first time since 2021. Marcus McGhee is 10-1 professionally, 4-0 in the UFC.. He’s 35-years old and getting a late start to his UFC run, but he is extremely well-rounded as a technically sound striker with solid wrestling and general grappling ability. He fights out of a solid camp via MMA Lab, and in spite of his age, he seems to be entering his athletic prime. McGhee carries a lot of momentum into this match-up, but there’s no denying this match-up represents a considerable step up in competition for him here. The line does feel wide here, but I do expect Yan can get this done convincingly in spite of his typical slow start. He’s the better technical fighter no matter where this one goes. Petr Yan by Round Three KO

Robert Whittaker -150 vs Reinier de Ridder +125

  • Anthony: The main event is a middleweight contest between Reinier de Ridder and Robert Whittaker. De Ridder is finally getting his shine after beating undefeated Bo Nickal in his last match. The former ONE middleweight and light heavyweight champion has a great record through 22 fights. His only career losses came up weight facing Anatoly Malykhin. His approach involves pursuing early takedowns and submissions. De Ridder is also known for his ability to smother opponents and prevent escapes. While he will likely try to get the wrestling going against Whittaker, I cannot predict him finding much sustained success. De Ridder is taking a big step-up in competition here facing Whittaker. The former champion will very much be ready for this challenge and I think his 81 percent takedown defense will hold. Whittaker is a very good offensive striker and I think he will hurt de Ridder once he is able to find space. Whittaker does very well controlling the distance and allowing his opponent to walk into mistakes. He hits much harder than de Ridder can and lands more frequent offense thanks to all of his kicks. Whittaker seems like the rightful favorite in this matchup but one way or another I think this fight will be lopsided. De Ridder needs to find a way to score early takedowns against Whittaker the way only Khamzat Chimaev has done before. I expect him to succumb to Rob’s striking offense before the final horn. Robert Whittaker by Round Three KO
  • Nick: The former UFC Middleweight Champion, Robert Whittaker, is very cerebral defensively and generally does an excellent job circling away from the power of his opponents. Additionally, he does a good job staying on the offensive even when he’s backing up. It is encouraging to see that Whittaker has been leaning on his leg kicks a lot more lately. He’s a decent grappler with solid takedown defense, and his cardio is amongst the best in the division. He’s coming off an ugly submission loss to the next title challenger in Khamzat Chimaev, and prior to that he had only lost to former champions at 185 lbs. Reiner de Ridder is primarily a grappler, and his offensive BJJ is extremely high level even by UFC standards. Fourteen of his nineteen professional wins have come via submission. His striking has come a long way over the past few years, but he mostly uses it as a means to drag his opponents to the mat. He’s 3-0 in the UFC, with impressive submission wins over Kevin Holland, Gerald Meerschaert, and most recently Bo Nickal. Prior to his UFC run he was a former ONE Light Heavyweight and ONE Heavyweight Champion. This is a very binary match-up in which de Ridder should dominate if he can take this fight to the mat, and Whittaker should dominate if he can keep this fight standing. That being said, I prefer the Whittaker side as the more well-rounded of the two. He has been tested against a high level of competition and his footwork is leagues ahead of de Ridders. Robert Whittaker by Round Three KO

-Nick Marro

Twitter: @NickMarroDFS

-Anthony Marro

Twitter: @AnthonyMarro_

Photo: UFC.com