*Robert Whittaker fires a jab at Kelvin Gastelum. Credit: Zuffa LLC.*

The UFC returns to the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi with an outstanding Fight Night card. From start to finish, this card has been packed full of exciting matchups and top-level fighters all looking for a highlight-reel victory. In the co-main event, we’ll see two outstanding strikers face off inside the Octagon when former champion Petr Yan takes on the quickly rising Marcus McGhee. In the main event, perennial Middleweight contender Robert Whittaker will take on Dutch grappling ace Reinier de Ridder. First, we’ll take a look at select preliminary bouts, then break down the full main card.

Prelims

Muslim Salikhov vs. Carlos Leal

*Muslim Salikhov blasts Song Kenan with a vicious spinning wheel kick. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Welterweight Bout

Muslim Salikhov: 21-5-0, 14 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Carlos Leal: 22-6-0, 11 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Salikhov has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Francisco Trinaldo (28-9-0), Song Kenan (22-9-0), and Santiago Ponzinibbio (31-9-0). He holds the rank of Master of Sport in Wushu Sanda and a pro kickboxing record of 185-13 with 76 wins by knockout. He’s an incredibly dangerous striker, possessing solid power and excellent technical skills. Salikhov has an impressive arsenal of kicks, particularly his array of spinning attacks that he loves to throw. Training at the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School, he’s also very defensively sound, having defended 62% of significant strikes attempted on him in his promotional tenure. He is willing to grapple and averages just over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes, and will rain down devastating ground and pound when in top position. Salikhov is highly experienced and very tough to put away, always coming forward and looking to do damage throughout the fight.

*Carlos Leal cracks Alex Morono with a powerful right hand. Credit: Ag. Fight.*

Leal has won three of his last five bouts, with a UFC victory coming over Alex Morono (24-12-0). He is a dangerous striker with heavy power, excellent output, and solid wrestling. He throws everything with power and in combination, but won’t get sloppy, keeping his punches tight and straight. Leal is highly accurate, especially inside the pocket, and does a great job of varying his shots, damaging the head, legs, and body evenly. He’s a great counterstriker and has excellent head movement, but also has a very solid chin, always willing to eat a shot to land one. Training at Thai Brasil, he’s a well-rounded grappler with an excellent sprawl and great wrestling, able to land takedowns in open space. Leal has secured his last five victories via knockout and is always in pursuit of a finish.

Bryce Mitchell vs. Said Nurmagomedov

*Bryce Mitchell unloads a ground and pound elbow onto Edson Barboza. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Featherweight Bout

Bryce Mitchell: 17-4-0, 1 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Said Nurmagomedov: 18-4-0, 4 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Mitchell has won two of his last five outings and has wins over #14 ranked Featherweight Dan Ige (19-10-0), Edson Barboza (24-12-0), and Andre Fili (24-12-0). He is a high-level grappler with dangerous submissions, landing, on average, over three takedowns per fifteen minutes in the UFC. He has a wrestling background and holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, typically getting the fight to the mat quickly. Mitchell has excellent top control on the ground and always pursues a finish, whether via ground and pound or a submission. Training at Barata MMA, he’s most dangerous early on, with eight of his nine submission victories coming in round one. On the feet, he’s in perpetual motion, cuts off the cage well, and has decent power in his hands. Mitchell has one of the three wins in UFC history via twister submission and can produce submissions from anywhere and any position.

*Said Nurmagomedov submits Muin Gafurov with a power guillotine choke. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Nurmagomedov has won three of his last five fights, holding UFC victories over Douglas Silva de Andrade (29-6-0), Cody Stamann (21-8-1), and Muin Gafurov (20-6-0). Don’t let the last name fool you; he’s a kick-first striker who loves to throw wild, spinning attacks. He prefers power to volume and can produce a flash knockout at any time. Although Nurmagomedov throws some unorthodox attacks, he always remains composed, keeps his guard high, and maintains excellent footwork. Training at Fight Club Akhmat, he’s averaging over one takedown landed and one submission attempted per fifteen minutes, utilizing his flashy striking to set up his grappling. Unsurprisingly, he has a wrestling base and is highly dangerous with both his ground and pound and submission game. Nurmagomedov has secured nine of his ten finish victories in the first round and is very dangerous early on.

Main Card

#10 Nikita Krylov vs. #13 Bogdan Guskov

*Nikita Krylov controls Volkan Oezdemir from top position. Credit: MMA Junkie.*

Light Heavyweight Bout

Nikita Krylov: 30-10-0, 12 KO/TKO, 16 Sub.

Bogdan Guskov: 17-3-0, 14 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Krylov has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #9 ranked Light Heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir (20-8-0), #12 ranked Light Heavyweight Johnny Walker (21-9-0), and Ryan Spann (23-11-0). He holds the rank of Master of Sport in Kyokushin Karate, Hand-to-Hand Combat, and Submission Fighting. He’s always willing to eat a shot to land one, regularly brawling and getting into exchanges in the pocket. Krylov has a solid arsenal of kicks in his repertoire, but he often favors his hands, regularly unleashing powerful combinations. Training with Raty Team, he always pushes a heavy pace, throwing with power and volume, and has outlanded his last eight opponents. He’s averaging over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes, has smothering top control, and is always working for a finish. Krylov rarely sees the judges’ scorecards, securing 28 of his 30 victories via finish, with 23 of those victories coming in round one.

*Bogdan Guskov stuns Ryan Spann with a potent right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Guskov has won four of his last five outings, with UFC victories coming over Zac Pauga (7-4-0), Billy Elekana (7-2-0), and Ryan Spann (23-11-0). He’s a heavy-handed striker who comes out guns blazing. He applies heavy forward pressure and always looks for a knockout, throwing every shot with fight-ending intentions. Training at GOR MMA, Guskov will throw the occasional kick but does most of his damage in the pocket, unloading heavy combinations. He has power in both hands but is seemingly always looking to set up his right, constantly firing devastating overhands. He has 12 finishes in the first round and has only gone to a single decision, as well as only seeing the third round once in his career. Guskov tends to headhunt and is willing to eat a shot to land one, but he has good head movement and moves in and out of the pocket very efficiently.

#9 Asu Almabayev vs. Jose Ochoa

*Asu Almabayev looks to lock in a rear naked choke on Jose Johnson. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Flyweight Bout

Asu Almabayev: 21-3-0, 3 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Jose Ochoa: 8-1-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Almabayev has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Matheus Nicolau (19-6-1), Jose Johnson (16-10-0), and Ode’ Osbourne (13-8-0). He’s exceptionally well-rounded, with a dominant wrestling style and flashy striking abilities. He’ll constantly throw spinning attacks on the feet and can land damage at range or in the pocket. Almabayev has landed 18 takedowns in just five UFC fights and has excellent chain wrestling, able to find takedowns from anywhere. Training at DAR Pro Team, he’s an efficient grappler, never wasting energy or telegraphing his shots or transitions. He has smothering top control, rarely allowing his opponent to throw up any offense or escape as he pursues a finish. The majority of Almabayev’s finishes have come after round one, and he tends to heat up as the fight continues.

*Jose Ochoa finishes Cody Durden with ground and pound shots. Credit: Ag. Fight.*

Ochoa has won four of his last five bouts, holding a UFC victory over Cody Durden (17-8-1). He’s a powerful, shifty striker with an excellent arsenal of attacks and chokes. He comes out guns blazing, typically firing numerous kicks from range before blitzing into the pocket to let his hands go. Ochoa has excellent distance management and head movement, regularly looking to slip and counter his opponent’s punches. He does a great job of varying his shots, attacking the head and body with equal tenacity. Training at Chute Boxe, he won’t typically pursue grappling exchanges but has excellent takedown defense and lethal submissions, often pursuing chokes while standing. Ochoa has only gone to a decision once, finishing all of his victories in the first or second round.

Shara Magomedov vs. Marc-André Barriault

*Shara Magomedov lands a powerful left hook on Armen Petrosyan. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Middleweight Bout

Shara Magomedov: 15-1-0, 12 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Marc-André Barriault: 17-9-0, 11 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Magomedov has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Bruno Silva (23-13-0), Antonio Trocoli (12-5-0), and Michal Oleksiejczuk (20-9-0). He’s a devastating, diverse striker with a fantastic arsenal of kicks. He’s constantly moving and switching stances, never remaining in one spot for long, and moving in and out of the pocket efficiently. Magomedov is excellent at range, peppering his opponent with lead leg attacks before blitzing in to throw bombs. Training at GOR MMA, he rarely initiates grappling exchanges, often accepting position on his back and throwing strikes. He regularly looks to land spinning attacks, particularly elbows and backfists. Magomedov has scored three finishes in less than a minute and always comes out guns blazing.

*Marc-André Barriault finishes Bruno Silva with brutal ground and pound strikes. Credit: Coast Reporter.*

Barriault has won two of his last five fights, with UFC victories coming over Julian Marquez (9-6-0), Jordan Wright (13-5-0), and Eryk Anders (17-8-0). He’s a brawler, preferring to hang in the pocket and get the job done with his hands. He has solid power, throws in combination, and regularly mixes in damaging leg kicks in his constant pursuit of a finish. When the fight hits the ground, Barriault has shown decent top control and heavy ground and pound, constantly looking to posture up and rain down shots. He has solid defensive wrestling, having defended 67% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he can push a heavy pace, averaging about 70 significant strikes landed in his last five victories. Barriault is always dangerous, but has secured seven of his eleven knockouts in round one and is at his best early on.

#3 Petr Yan vs. #12 Marcus McGhee

*Petr Yan unloads a powerful uppercut on Deiveson Figueiredo. Credit: MMA Mania.*

Bantamweight Bout

Petr Yan: 18-5-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Marcus McGhee: 10-1-0, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Yan has won two of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Bantamweight Cory Sandhagen (18-5-0), #5 ranked Bantamweight Song Yadong (22-8-1), and #6 ranked Bantamweight Deiveson Figueiredo (24-5-1). He’s a well-rounded fighter, comfortable wherever the fight goes, possessing excellent striking and wrestling. He’s highly technical and precise on his feet, doing a great job of mixing kicks into combinations and never telegraphing his shots. Training at BK Arkhangel Mikhail, Yan never slows down, always pursuing a finish and throwing with maximum power and speed. He can push a crazy pace for 25 minutes and has fantastic cardio, landing, on average, about 123 significant strikes in his last five wins. He has excellent takedowns and top control, constantly throwing brutal ground and pound. Yan has faced nothing but the best in his UFC tenure and has gone toe-to-toe with five former or current champions.

*Marcus McGhee blasts Jonathan Martinez with a left hand. Credit: MMA Mania.*

McGhee is on a six-fight win streak, holding UFC victories over Jonathan Martinez (19-6-0), Gaston Bolaños (8-5-0), and Journey Newson (10-5-0). He’s a dangerous striker with big-time power and solid grappling. He’s highly explosive but remains technical throughout, throwing his shots straight and tight without telegraphing. McGhee has great footwork and head movement, constantly coming forward and pressuring his opponent. Training at the MMA LAB, his striking sets up his grappling, and he has excellent takedown timing and defense, having defended all takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. In top position, he’s capable of producing quick submissions but also has heavy ground and pound. Six of McGhee’s nine finishes came after the first round, and he tends to heat up as the fight continues.

#5 Robert Whittaker vs. #13 Reinier de Ridder

*Robert Whittaker uncorks a stiff left hand on Ikram Aliskerov. Credit: MMA Mania.*

Middleweight Bout

Robert Whittaker: 27-8-0, 11 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Reinier de Ridder: 20-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 13 Sub.

Whittaker has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #7 ranked Middleweight Jared Cannonier (18-8-0), #11 ranked Middleweight Paulo Costa (15-4-0), and #12 ranked Middleweight Marvin Vettori (19-9-1). He is an excellent, technical striker in perpetual motion, constantly bouncing and throwing everything in combination. Utilizing his karate background, he executes fantastic lead leg attacks and throws all his shots with precision and accuracy. Training at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu SG, Whittaker varies his shots well, attacking the head and body evenly and never overextending or getting sloppy. He’s elusive, never staying in one spot for long, and always keeps his head off the centerline. He does an excellent job mixing kicks into combinations, making them extremely hard to predict or see before they land. Whittaker has great cardiovascular endurance and remains composed throughout, easily able to maintain a heavy pace for 25 minutes.

*Reinier de Ridder stuns Bo Nickal with a right hook. Credit: Yahoo Sports.*

De Ridder has won four of his last five fights, with UFC victories over Gerald Meerschaert (37-19-0), Kevin Holland (28-14-0), and Bo Nickal (7-1-0). He’s a former ONE Championship Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion and is an outstanding, dangerous grappler. He has an awkward striking style, remaining upright, fighting behind his jab, and throwing kicks at range before closing the distance. De Ridder is powerful in the clinch and constantly looks for body lock and trip takedowns, often from the opening bell. He has strong top control and continually attacks and improves in top position, fluidly moving from one position to another. He holds black belts in Judo and BJJ, utilizing ground and pound to wear down his opponent and create submission openings, typically pursuing chokes. De Ridder pushes a consistent pace throughout, but has found nine of his thirteen submissions in the first round and is most dangerous early on.

Best Bets

Guskov vs. Krylov Under 1.5 Rounds: This is an excellent matchup of two heavy-handed strikers. Both men are prolific finishers, having produced a combined 45 finishes in 60 fights. Neither man sees the judges’ scorecards often; nine of Guskov’s last ten outings didn’t reach the third round, and four of Krylov’s previous five fights ended in the first round. A victory would also be massively significant for either man, especially via a finish. Krylov has not won a fight since 2023, most recently being knocked out by Dominick Reyes, and needs a highlight reel win to regain momentum. For Guskov, this would easily be his highest-profile victory and a chance to enter the top ten at Light Heavyweight. I expect both men to be hunting for an early finish and to meet in the middle of the octagon to let their hands go. Regardless of who earns a victory in this matchup, I don’t expect it to last longer than one and a half rounds.

Shara Magomedov by KO/TKO: Another matchup of two dangerous scrappers, I’m looking forward to this one. Although both are strikers, they have very different styles. Barriault is more suited to a true brawl, constantly coming forward to unload heavy combinations and exchanging inside the pocket. Magomedov is a much more polished striker, remaining technical throughout and utilizing his distance management and arsenal of kicks to secure victory. Although he’s more comfortable fighting in a phone booth, Barriault has proven susceptible to knockouts, suffering two first-round KO losses in his last three appearances. With the footwork and movement of Magomedov, it’s unlikely Barriault will have his usual opportunities to blitz into the pocket and throw bombs, which he often relies on to get the job done. I expect Magomedov to maintain distance, constantly darting in and out of the pocket and keeping Barriault on the end of his punches. I anticipate Barriault struggling to maintain forward momentum while Magomedov picks him apart from range, until he finds a shot to put Barriault away and earns another knockout victory.

Robert Whittaker Moneyline: This is a fascinating matchup of two vastly different fighters. Whittaker is well-rounded but most comfortable on his feet, possessing excellent technical striking and power. De Ridder is more of a grappler, possessing awkward but powerful striking abilities, along with outstanding wrestling and submission skills. Both men have something to prove in this fight; Whittaker, coming off a brutal submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev, looks to show that he still belongs at the top of the division. De Ridder, on the other hand, is receiving his first big-name matchup in the UFC and has a chance to insert himself into the title conversation. Despite the loss to Chimaev, Whittaker has consistently demonstrated solid defensive grappling skills throughout his career, successfully defending 81% of the takedowns attempted against him during his UFC tenure. De Ridder has struggled in the past when unable to secure takedowns, particularly in his second fight with Anatoly Malykhin. After numerous rejected takedowns, de Ridder ultimately gassed himself out and was finished in the third round. I believe Whittaker can produce a similar result. If Whittaker can turn this into a striking battle, he has a clear advantage on his feet. I expect Whittaker to deny de Ridder’s takedowns early while controlling the pace and forcing de Ridder to the outside. As de Ridder’s pace slows, I anticipate Whittaker’s aggression to increase, turning up the heat on the feet and forcing de Ridder to strike with him. Ultimately, I expect Whittaker to keep the fight standing and earn a hard-fought victory on Saturday.

UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. de Ridder Preview