UFC Fight Night Returns to Abu Dhabi on July 26 with Whittaker vs. de Ridder Headlining

UFC Fight Night will make its highly anticipated comeback to Abu Dhabi this summer, having been announced to be scheduled for Saturday 26 July 2025 at the Etihad Arena on the Yas Island. The event promises high octane action, and a stacked fight card that is now officially announced.

The headline match-up will involve No. 5 middleweight Robert Whittaker from Australia, against Reinier de Ridder of the Netherlands. Whittaker steps into the octagon with the 27-8-0 record of victories against the UFC stars like Yoel Romero and Marvin Vettori. De Ridders, a fast emerging Dutch Challenger, comes in with a formidable 20-2-0 record and is gaining on a lot of impetus in the middleweight division.

The fight night card also has:

Nikita Krylov (Russia) VS Bogdan Guskov (Uzbekistan) – Light Heavyweight

Ramazan Temirov (19-3-0) against Asu Almabayev (Kazakhstan) – Flyweight

Ibo Aslan (Turkey) v Billy Elekana (USA) – Light Heavyweight

Abu Dhabi has hosted several more than 20 UFC events since the year 2010, becoming a tourist hot spot for MMA fans from all over the world. In 2024, the city hosted two UFC events as it never did in a single year; a trend that will likely be continued in 2025 with another big event likely in October.

Last year’s Fight Night had Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Cory Sandhagen, and even attracted the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov, to the front row.

Tickets to attend UFC Fight Night on July 26 are going for AED 345 and can be purchased online on etihadarena.ae.

Supported by global superstars, promising new blood and Abu Dhabi’s super-charged arena atmosphere, this year’s UFC Fight Night is not to be missed by fight fans.