Reinier de Ridder achieved a significant milestone in his career with a split decision victory against former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker during UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi.

Whittaker opened the fight with an impactful strike that seemingly startled de Ridder, who nonetheless persisted with his game plan, seeking to make takedowns. After surviving an initial takedown attempt, Whittaker continued to connect, later inflicting a cut above de Ridder’s left eye. Despite significant exchanges, de Ridder showcased effective knees and jabs that were aided by his height and reach advantages, eventually taking the fight to the ground and executing effective ground strikes.

As the fight progressed, fatigue seemed to grip Whittaker, but he managed to land a powerful counter that knocked de Ridder down, forcing him to endure a tough sequence on the ground. However, de Ridder regained control and pressured Whittaker with strikes and submission attempts.

The decisive split decision was called with scorecards reading 48-47, 47-48, and 48-47 in favor of de Ridder, who expressed his surprise at the contest’s difficulty post-fight, stating he aimed to finish his opponents more decisively in future bouts. Whittaker acknowledged the challenge posed by de Ridder’s strategy, marking his second consecutive loss and a total of three defeats in his last five bouts.