De Ridder vs Whittaker: The End of an Era in UFC? Analysis and Reactions

De Ridder Shocks Whittaker at UFC Fight Night

The two-division ONE Championship champion, Reinier de Ridder, has put the UFC middleweight division on notice after defeating former champion Robert Whittaker by split decision in the main event of UFC Fight Night held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. De Ridder, despite being knocked down and nearly finished by Whittaker, showed his composure by coming back and overcoming Whittaker, securing the victory. Since his promotional debut last November, De Ridder has accumulated an impressive 4-0 record. De Ridder’s victory raises questions about the current state of the middleweight division. In the co-main event, former bantamweight champion Petr Yan demonstrated his relevance in the division by defeating Marcus McGhee by unanimous decision. Could this mean a soon return of Yan to the fight for the belt? Furthermore, Shara Magomedov’s victory over Marc-Andre Barriault in the main card has generated great interest.

Whittaker: The End of an Era

Whittaker’s defeat is a bittersweet moment. Considered one of the most consistent and underrated fighters, Whittaker won the interim UFC title in 2017. However, his path to title unification was hampered by tough rivals like Yoel Romero and, subsequently, he was defeated by Israel Adesanya, losing the belt. Since then, he has acted as a gatekeeper of the division, facing Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev, who are now competing for the championship. Despite his strength and determination, Whittaker, at 34 years old, seems to be showing signs of decline. De Ridder, although only two months younger, moves with an agility that suggests a greater age difference. De Ridder’s victory represents a boost for the middleweight division, while Whittaker, although still a high-level competitor, could be in the final phase of his career.

Petr Yan: The UFC’s Most Underrated Fighter?

In the last five years, few fighters in the UFC have had such a misleading record as Yan’s. He won the UFC championship in July 2020, but then lost the title by disqualification after an incident in which an illegal knee was applied to Aljamain Sterling. After defeating Cory Sandhagen for the interim championship in 2022, Yan was considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters. However, he suffered split-decision losses to Sterling and Sean O’Malley, and lost to Merab Dvalishvili. Despite these setbacks, Yan’s potential remains undeniable, and a possible matchup against Dvalishvili remains intriguing.

Petr Yan, on the right, defeated Marcus McGhee by unanimous decision in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Shara Magomedov: A Path Full of Challenges

The interaction between Magomedov and UFC commentator Michael Bisping after Magomedov’s fight was significant. After his victory over Marc-Andre Barriault, Magomedov expressed his admiration for Bisping, acknowledging his motivation. With a 5-1 record in the UFC, Magomedov has a challenging path ahead, similar to Bisping, who had to overcome numerous obstacles before getting a title shot. His victory on Saturday was impressive, showcasing his striking ability and a near-perfect takedown defense. Although he suffered a blow that fractured his nose in the second round, he showed resilience and won the fight. However, Magomedov did not dominate as expected, considering his status as the favorite. His defeat by decision against Michael “Venom” Page suggests that his path to the UFC title will be full of challenges.