UFC, Whittaker and ABC 9
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With a number of historic feats throughout the card, the night was capped off by former two-division ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder (20-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC), who won a debated split decision over former UFC champ Robert Whittaker (26-9 MMA, 17-7 UFC) to potentially earn a title shot.
UFC on ABC 9 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) took place Saturday, and MMA Junkie provided live round-by-round coverage and official result. UFC on ABC 9 took place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. In the headliner, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (26-9 MMA, 17-7 UFC) took on former ONE champion Reinier de Ridder (21-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC).
The full UFC on ABC 9 weigh-in results include: MAIN CARD (ABC, ESPN+, 3 p.m. ET) Shara Magomedov (186) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (185) Asu Almabayev (126) vs. Jose Ochoa (125.5) Bryce Mitchell (136) vs. Said Nurmagomedov (136) Ibo Aslan (204) vs. Billy Elekana (204.5)
ABU DHABI – Petr Yan proved to be too much for Marcus McGhee at UFC on ABC 9. Yan (19-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) showed off his diverse striking en route to a unanimous decision win (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) over McGhee (10-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) in Saturday's co-main event at Etihad Arena.
The UFC handed out four bonuses after Saturday's card in Abu Dhabi, including a record-breaking performance. After UFC on ABC 9, four fighters picked up an extra $50,000 for their performances at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Check out the winners below.
The win was the fifth in six UFC fights for Magomedov, who’d dropped a decision to Michael Page in February. Barriault, meanwhile, has lost nine of 15 with the company after arriving in 2019, having gone 11-1 in smaller promotions.
Amanda Ribas will have a plate inserted in her face after UFC Abu Dhabi due to the damage from Tabatha Ricci's pinpoint elbow.
UFC on ABC 9 takes place on Saturday, July 26, in Abu Dhabi. Here is how to watch the event featuring Robert Whittaker vs. Reiner de Ridder in the main event.