Reinier de Ridder squeezes out split decision over | MMA News
The UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. De Ridder combat card in Abu Dhabi on Saturday was headlined by a middleweight bout between former champion Robert Whittaker and former ONE middleweight and mild heavyweight champion Reinier de Ridder.
Whittaker entered Saturday’s important occasion coming off a submission loss to the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev. Ranked No. 5 in the division, Whittaker hoped to make his method back to a title combat beginning with a win over the Dutchman.
De Ridder made his octagon debut in November 2024 and has completed all three of his opponents including Kevin Holland and Bo Nickal. A win over Whittaker would catapult him in the rankings and put him in contender standing.
Whittaker pressed ahead to begin the combat. De Ridder rapidly went for a single-leg takedown. Whittaker defended the attempt and separated from the clinch. Whittaker linked with a mixture. De Ridder regarded for a takedown but Whittaker stuffed the attempt. Whittaker’s jab popped De Ridder’s head back. Whittaker linked with a counter proper hand. Another proper hand discovered a home for Whittaker.
De Ridder failed on one other takedown attempt but was in a position to get to the clinch. Whittaker circled free and landed a jab. De Ridder stepped in the pocket with a knee to the physique. Whittaker landed a proper hand late in the spherical. MMAWeekly scored the body 10-9 for Whittaker.
Whittaker got here out aggressive in the second. He bounced on his toes on the skin. De Ridder briefly regarded for a takedown but it wasn’t there. Whittaker linked with a mixture and started stalking De Ridder. De Ridder was outmatched on the toes. He stepped in with a knee but Whittaker answered with a proper hand. De Ridder delivered a exhausting knee to the physique. His jab started to land. He delivered one other knee that might have damage Whittaker. He took Whittaker down. De Ridder peppered Whittaker with short punches to the physique. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for De Ridder.
De Ridder pressed ahead with punches. They landed. Whittaker circled away. Whittaker landed a proper hand that despatched De Ridder crashing to the canvas. Whittaker stood over him and dropped with a proper hand. De Ridder stood and rapidly clinched. Both males regarded fatigued. They separated and Whittaker defended a takedown attempt. De Ridder ate a proper hand but stored transferring ahead. Whittaker landed a proper hand. De Ridder modified ranges and secured a takedown at the halfway level in the spherical.
On the ground, De Ridder labored from the half guard place before passing to facet control. Whittaker regained half guard but De Ridder moved proper back into facet control. De Ridder postured up in the closing seconds and landed elbows. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Whittaker with the knockdown but it is troublesome to say how the judges scored the spherical.
De Ridder pressured Whittaker to begin the fourth. He delivered a knee to the physique and clinched. Whittaker circled free and landed a proper hand. De Ridder tied him up but Whittaker spun away. De Ridder rapidly regarded for one other takedown. He pressed Whittaker against the cage and tried to drag him to the ground. Whittaker gained high place and they scrambled to their toes. De Ridder’s jab landed at a more typically fee. Whittaker responded with a stiff jab. De Ridder continued to land his jab. Whittaker doubled up with his jab. De Ridder delivered a exhausting knee to the physique. He landed a proper hand that wobbled Whittaker. Whittaker landed a proper and in the closing seconds. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for De Ridder.
Whittaker got here out in the ultimate spherical utilizing his jab. De Ridder pressed ahead and cliched. He delivered short punches to the physique. Whitter separated but De Ridder immediately closed the gap and clinched. Whittaker circled free again but De Ridder rapidly bought back to the clinch. They separated and Whittaker landed a jab while De Ridder linked with a knee to the physique before clinching. Whittaker turned him and separated. Whittaker went to the physique with back-to-back proper fingers. De Ridder responded with a jab. He closed the gap and tied Whittaker up. Whittaker circled away. De Ridder tied Whittaker up in the closing moments. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for De Ridder.
The judges scored the combat for De Ridder via unanimous decision. The scorecards learn 48-47, 47-48 and 48-47.
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