UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder
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{{short description|Mixed martial arts event in 2025}}
{{Infobox MMA event
|name= UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder
|image= UFC_on_ABC_9_poster.jpg
|promotion= Ultimate Fighting Championship
|date= {{start date|2025|07|26}}
|venue= Etihad Arena
|city= Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
|attendance=
|gate=
|previousevent= UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3
|followingevent= UFC on ESPN: Albazi vs. Taira
}}
UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder (also known as UFC on ABC 9) is an upcoming mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that will take place on July 26, 2025, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/ufc/article/ufc-announces-return-to-abu-dhabi-for-fight-night-event-in-july/|title=UFC announces return to Abu Dhabi for Fight Night event in July|publisher=sportsnet.ca|author=Staff|date=2025-03-20|access-date=2025-03-20}}
Background
The event will mark the promotion's 21st visit to Abu Dhabi and first since UFC 308 in October 2024.
A middleweight bout between former UFC Middleweight Champion (also The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes welterweight winner) Robert Whittaker and former ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion Reinier de Ridder is expected to headline this event.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2025/05/10/ufc-abu-dhabi-robert-whittaker-vs-reinier-de-ridder-main-event/83549612007/|title=Former champ Robert Whittaker returns for UFC Abu Dhabi headliner vs. Reinier de Ridder|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Matthew Wells|date=2025-03-20|access-date=2025-03-20}}
A featherweight bout between Movsar Evloev and promotional newcomer Aaron Pico was briefly expected to take place at UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales in last May, but it did not come to fruition.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2025/04/aaron-pico-ufc-debut-fight-almost-movsar-evloev|title=Now signed to UFC, Aaron Pico reveals just how close he came to fighting Movsar Evloev|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Farah Hannoun and Mike Bohn|date=2025-04-09|access-date=2025-04-09}} They are now scheduled to meet at this event in a five round co-headliner.{{Cite web|url=https://empiresportsmedia.com/mma/ufc-abu-dhabi-adds-movsar-evloev-aaron-pico/|title=UFC Abu Dhabi adds Movsar Evloev – Aaron Pico|publisher=empiresportsmedia.com|author=Daniel Cunningham|date=2025-05-23|access-date=2025-05-23}}{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2025/06/18/ufc-aaron-pico-vs-movsar-evloev-booked-abu-dhabi-fight-night/83603448007/|title=Aaron Pico gets unbeaten Movsar Evloev for UFC debut in Abu Dhabi|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Staff|date=2025-06-18|access-date=2025-06-18}}
A women's strawweight bout between Amanda Ribas and Tabatha Ricci is scheduled for this event.{{Cite web|title=Change! Amanda Ribas vs. Tabatha Ricci fight moved to UFC Abu Dhabi|url=https://agfight.com/ufc/mudanca-luta-entre-amanda-ribas-e-tabatha-ricci-e-transferida-para-o-ufc-abu-dhabi/|date=2025-06-04|access-date=2025-06-04|publisher=agfight.com|author=Neri Fung}} {{in lang|pt-br}} The bout was originally scheduled for UFC 318 one week before but was moved to this event for unknown reasons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmamania.com/2025/5/6/24425047/fight-news-amanda-ribas-vs-tabatha-ricci-added-to-ufc-318-in-new-orleans|title=Fight news! Amanda Ribas vs. Tabatha Ricci added to UFC 318 in New Orleans|publisher=mmamania.com|author=Alexander Behunin|date=2025-05-06|access-date=2025-05-06}}
Asu Almabayev and Ramazan Temirov were expected to face each other in a flyweight bout on the preliminary card.{{Cite web|publisher=sherdog.com|title=UFC Abu Dhabi adds Asu Almabayev vs. Ramazonbek Temirov at flyweight|url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-Abu-Dhabi-Adds-Asu-Almabayev-vs-Ramazonbek-Temirov-at-Flyweight-196885|date=2025-05-08|access-date=2025-05-08|author=Jay Pettry}} However, Temirov pulled out due to failing a drug test in early July and was replaced by Jose Ochoa.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmamania.com/2025/7/8/24464088/festering-wound-triggers-failed-drug-test-bounces-flyweight-prospect-ramazan-temirov-ufc-abu-dhabi|title=Festering wound triggers failed drug test, bounces top Flyweight prospect from UFC Abu Dhabi - 'It was my mistake'|publisher=mmamania.com|author=Alexander Behunin|date=2025-07-08|access-date=2025-07-08}}
Fight card
{{MMAevent}}
{{MMAevent card|Main card (ABC / ESPN+)}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Middleweight
|vs.
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{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|vs.
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{{MMAevent bout
|Bantamweight
|vs.
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{{MMAevent bout
|Bantamweight
|vs.
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{{MMAevent bout
|Middleweight
|vs.
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{{MMAevent card|Preliminary card (ESPN / ESPN+)|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Light Heavyweight
|vs.
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{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Straweight
|vs.
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{{MMAevent bout
|Light Heavyweight
|vs.
|Billy Elekana
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{{MMAevent bout
|Bantamweight
|vs.
|Da'Mon Blackshear
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{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|Mohammad Yahya
|vs.
|Steven Nguyen
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{{MMAevent end|notes=yes}}
Announced bouts
- Welterweight bout: Muslim Salikhov vs. Carlos Leal Miranda{{Cite web|title=Muslim Salikhov vs Carlos Leal na UFC on ABC 9|url=https://www.mmarocks.pl/mma-news/muslim-salikhov-vs-carlos-leal-na-ufc-on-abc-9|date=2025-06-19|access-date=2025-06-19|publisher=mmarocks.pl|author=Michał Tkaczuk}} {{in lang|pl}}
- Heavyweight bout: Marcus Almeida vs. Martin Buday{{Cite web |last=Sherdog.com |title=Marcus 'Buchecha' Booked for UFC Debut in Abu Dhabi
|url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Marcus-Buchecha-Booked-for-UFC-Debut-in-Abu-Dhabi-197621 |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=Sherdog |language=en}}
- Flyweight bout: Asu Almabayev vs. Jose Ochoa
See also
{{Portal|Martial Arts}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{UFC Events}}
{{2025 in mixed martial arts}}
Category:July 2025 sports events in the United Arab Emirates
Category:2025 in Emirati sport
Category:Mixed martial arts in the United Arab Emirates