Watch UFC Whittaker vs de Ridder 7/26/25 - 26th July 2025 Full Show Online HD:
Preview:
This week’s UFC Main Event features a highly anticipated Middleweight bout between former king, Robert Whittaker, vs. Reiner de Ridder.
De Ridder has been on an excellent run since entering the UFC in 2024. He has gone 3-0 with three finishes in that span and now has an opportunity to test his skills against a former champion. De Ridder last beat Bo Nickal, who, although he was a top prospect at the time, is not nearly as big a challenge as Whittaker is. Whittaker has lost to three fighters in the last decade, with two being champions (Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis), and Khamzat Chimaev is soon to challenge for the title.
Regardless of the level of competition from de Ridder’s opponents in the UFC, he has demonstrated a versatile skill set that presents challenges for everyone in the middleweight division. As surprising as this may sound, Whittaker is actually a good matchup for the former ONE Champion. What do the three opponents that previously beat Whittaker have in common? They are all taller with a larger reach advantage. De Ridder’s checks both of those boxes as he is four inches taller (6’4″ vs. 6’0″) with a five-inch more significant standing reach (78″ vs. 73″).
De Ridder’s recent UFC performances have been spectacular, particularly his dominant second-round TKO victory over highly-touted prospect Bo Nickal at UFC Des Moines. This victory followed impressive submission wins over Kevin Holland (first-round rear-naked choke) and Gerald Meerschaert (third-round submission). The Dutch fighter’s background includes being a former two-division champion in ONE Championship, holding both middleweight and light heavyweight titles simultaneously. The stylistic matchup favors different aspects for each fighter. Whittaker’s technical striking, movement, and championship experience could prove decisive if he can keep the fight standing and avoid de Ridder’s takedown attempts.
However, de Ridder’s significant height and reach advantages, combined with his elite submission skills, make him dangerous in any grappling exchanges. The key will be whether Whittaker can utilize his superior takedown defense (81%) to nullify de Ridder’s primary weapon. McGhee’s power and finishing ability have made him a fan favorite, with eight of his ten career victories coming via knockout. The key to this fight lies in McGhee’s ability to close distance and land his power shots against Yan’s superior technical striking and experience. Yan’s precision and boxing fundamentals should give him advantages in longer exchanges, while McGhee’s explosive finishing ability makes him dangerous in any engagement.
The co-main event features former bantamweight champion Petr Yan (18-5-0) against rising contender Marcus McGhee (10-1-0) in what promises to be an explosive bantamweight clash. This matchup represents a classic veteran versus prospect scenario with significant ranking implications. Petr Yan, known as “No Mercy,” is widely regarded as one of the most technically proficient strikers in the bantamweight division. The 32-year-old Russian fighter brings championship experience and an elite striking game characterized by precise combinations and devastating power. Despite recent setbacks against current champion Merab Dvalishvili and Deiveson Figueiredo, Yan remains ranked #3 in the division and possesses the skills to reclaim championship gold. Marcus McGhee, nicknamed “The Maniac,” has been one of the most impressive prospects in the bantamweight division. The 35-year-old American fighter boasts a perfect UFC record with four consecutive Performance of the Night bonuses, including spectacular knockouts and submissions.
Match Card:
Prelims – 12 PM ET
- Bantamweight Bryce Mitchell vs. Said Nurmagomedov
- Welterweight Muslim Salikhov vs. Carlos Leal Miranda
- Bantamweight Davey Grant vs. Da’Mon Blackshear
- Women’s Straweight Amanda Ribas vs. Tabatha Ricci
- Light Heavyweight İbo Aslan vs. Billy Elekana
- Featherweight Mohammad Yahya vs. Steven Nguyen
- Heavyweight Martin Buday vs. Marcus Buchecha
Main Card – 3 PM ET
- Middleweight 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
EVENT INFO :
- Show
- Location: Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
