Robert Whittaker Loses Comeback Fight to Reinier de Ridder
Robert Whittaker lost his comeback fight to Reinier de Ridder via split decision in Abu Dhabi.
The Australian middleweight suffered his first back-to-back losses since 2013.
De Ridder landed 169 total strikes, compared to 100 for Whittaker, and controlled for over nine minutes.
Whittaker's best moment came in the third round when he dropped de Ridder with a counter right hand.
The loss marks a significant setback for the 34-year-old Whittaker, who admitted being "pretty butt-hurt".
Whittaker praised de Ridder's pressure and skill sets, saying he "got it off more times than not".
De Ridder, ranked 13th in the division, called for a title shot after his fourth UFC victory.
Whittaker, ranked 5th, will look to bounce back from his second consecutive loss.
The Dutchman submitted Kevin Holland in January and knocked out Bo Nickal in May.
Whittaker's durability was praised by de Ridder, who said he was "amazing" and had "heavy f***ing hands".
The fight took place on Saturday, with de Ridder winning 48-47 on two judges' scorecards.
Whittaker had won 17 of his 24 UFC fights before the loss.
De Ridder's victory earned him his third win of the year.
Whittaker will look to regroup and plan his next move after the tough loss.
The Australian's next fight has not been announced.
De Ridder's performance has put him in contention for a title shot.
Whittaker's loss has dropped him down the middleweight rankings.
The 34-year-old will look to bounce back and regain his form.
De Ridder's win has propelled him up the rankings.
The Dutchman's next fight will be highly anticipated.
Whittaker's durability and toughness were on display despite the loss.
The Australian's counter right hand dropped de Ridder in the third round.
De Ridder's pressure and volume were too much for Whittaker.
The fight was a closely contested and exciting bout.
Whittaker's experience and skill sets were not enough to overcome de Ridder.
The loss is a setback for Whittaker, but he will look to learn from it.
De Ridder's victory is a significant win for the Dutchman.
The fight has implications for the middleweight division.
Whittaker's next move will be closely watched.
De Ridder's performance has earned him recognition.
The fight was a great display of UFC action.
Whittaker's toughness and durability were praised by de Ridder.
The Australian's loss is a tough pill to swallow.
De Ridder's win is a great achievement for the Dutchman.
The fight has set up an interesting scenario for the middleweight division.