UFC Declares Initial Six Matches for July's Fight Lineup in Abu Dhabi
UFC's back in Abu Dhabi on July 26 for a legendary fight night at Etihad Arena. UFC CEO Dana White just dropped the first six bouts for that event, including the main event, a middleweight showdown between former champion Robert Whittaker and rising star Reinier de Ridder. In the co-main event, Aaron Pico makes his UFC debut against Movsar Evloev in a grueling five-round featherweight matchup.
Updated UFC Fight Night Fight Card
Main Event: Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder - Middleweight
Whittaker (26-8), the No. 5 middleweight in UFC rankings, eyes a comeback after a gritty submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308. De Ridder (20-2), the No. 12 middleweight, is on a roll with three impressive stoppage victories over formidable opponents like Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and Bo Nickal.
Co-Main Event: Movsar Evloev vs. Aaron Pico - Featherweight
Evloev (19-0) made his UFC debut in 2019, with a hard-fought unanimous decision win against Choi Seung-woo. Since then, he's climbed the featherweight ranks, facing tougher opponents and racking up an impressive 9-0 record under the UFC banner, including a recent decision win over former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling. Pico (13-4), a recently signed free agent from Bellator, enters this bout on a three-fight winning streak with a record of 9-1 in his past ten fights.
Other announced fights for the card include:
- Petr Yan vs. Marcus McGhee - Bantamweight
- Bryce Mitchell vs. Said Nurmagomedov - Bantamweight
- Shara Magomedov vs. Marc-Andre Barriault - Middleweight
- Nikita Krylov vs. Bogdan Guskov - Light Heavyweight
Stay tuned for more updates as the fight night approaches!
UFC Schedule:Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. ET
Location: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
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This upcoming UFC event in Abu Dhabi on July 26, falling under the sports category of mixed-martial-arts, promises an exciting night of combat in the Etihad Arena. Among the six announced fights, Robert Whittaker, a former UFC champion, is set to challenge Reinier de Ridder in the main event, while Aaron Pico, a Bellator free agent, will make his UFC debut against Movsar Evloev in the co-main event.
