At UFC Abu Dhabi, Robert Whittaker faced Reinier de Ridder in the main event. Whittaker, seeking redemption after a previous loss, faced de Ridder, who had an undefeated record in the UFC. Early exchanges favored Whittaker, who defended against takedowns and landed effective strikes. De Ridder managed a successful takedown in the second round and inflicted damage, but Whittaker retaliated in the third round with a knockdown. Despite challenges, Whittaker's experience and defense led him to victory over de Ridder, who showcased his own skills but fell short in this contest.
Reinier de Ridder caught a kick early, looked to take Robert Whittaker down, but Whittaker showed solid balance and pulled free, landing more strikes from the outside.
In round two, de Ridder's striking appeared slower compared to Whittaker, but he connected with effective knees and eventually scored a successful takedown.
Whittaker's response in round three included a knockdown of de Ridder, showcasing his resilience despite being bloodied and pressed against the fence.
The first five minutes belonged to Whittaker, who demonstrated superior striking and successfully defended against de Ridder's takedown attempts.
Collection
[
|
...
]