Robert Whittaker is set to return to the octagon this summer against an unexpected opponent, and the fight came together with surprising speed. The UFC recently announced that the former middleweight champion will face former ONE two-division titleholder Reinier de Ridder in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi.
This upcoming bout marks Whittaker`s first appearance since sustaining a significant mouth injury in his fight against Khamzat Chimaev. The pairing raised some eyebrows, especially since Whittaker had been linked to other potential opponents prior to the announcement. Whittaker shared on his YouTube channel that the fight`s quick materialization was largely a matter of fortunate timing.
“I told my manager to talk to them. I was looking at late June or early July, thinking International Fight Week looked good,” Whittaker explained. “I was also mentioning Sean Strickland`s name around that time. We`re both highly ranked, it made sense, we`d never fought, let`s get it done.”
He continued, “They responded saying Strickland was just getting back into training and they weren`t sure when that fight could happen, but Roman Dolidze was ready and willing. I thought, `Done. Sign me up. Let`s go.`”
However, plans shifted dramatically in just a few days. “Then, literally four days ago, they asked, `How about RDR? De Ridder, main event, Abu Dhabi, July 28?` I was like, what happened to the other plans? I don`t know what changed!”
Despite the abrupt change, Whittaker didn`t hesitate to accept the fight. De Ridder recently gained significant attention by becoming the first fighter to defeat Bo Nickal, securing a stoppage win earlier this month. While this victory didn`t immediately boost “RDR” in the rankings, it raised his profile considerably, making the fight an easy “yes” for Whittaker.
“All I know is the date fit,” Whittaker stated. “He might not be in the Top 10 yet, but he just beat Bo Nickal. He`s a tough fight, he held two titles in ONE, he`s a serious challenge. I`m sure he`ll be in the Top 10 soon; he`s definitely a Top 10 competitor. It`s a hard fight, let`s do it. July is a good time, so I said yes right away.”
He added, “Everything just worked out. We`re 11 weeks out from Abu Dhabi, main event, five rounds. It`s always exciting. I love seeing my face on a poster, the kids enjoy it. I`m looking forward to getting the work done.”
For Whittaker, the fight against de Ridder represents a chance to bounce back from his tough loss to Chimaev and solidify his position as a top contender in the 185-pound division. At 34 years old, “The Reaper” is aware that his active career window is limited and he is focused on achieving his goals in the sport.
“I`m really looking forward to it,” Whittaker said. “I want to get back in there and get back into the win column. I have certain things I want to accomplish. I don`t plan to fight forever. I`ve got a couple of years left in my career, and I`m chasing that fairytale ending. Especially after seeing guys like Volk and now JDM succeed, I want my own fairytale ending. My goal is to work my way back to the title, win the belt, and ride off into the sunset. That`s the dream I`m fighting for right now.”
UFC Abu Dhabi is scheduled for July 26 at Etihad Arena.
