Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC/Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

UFC Abu Dhabi preview, start time, full fight card as two former champions clash

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Hamish Woodward | Last updated Jul 8, 2025 1:28 PM ET

The UFC returns to the United Arab Emirates with an impressive card at UFC Abu Dhabi.

In the main event of the card, former UFC Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker will do battle with Reinier de Ridder, himself a former ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion.

RDR will be hoping a win over the #5 ranked Middleweight will allow him to jump up the rankings and move closer towards a title shot against Dricus du Plessis in the near future.

The rest of the card includes some big names, including the controversial Bryce Mitchell and a Russian former world champion.

Here’s everything you need to know about UFC Abu Dhabi.

What time does UFC Abu Dhabi start?

UFC Abu Dhabi takes place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on July 26, 2025.

The event is expected to start with the prelims at 9:00 AM (PT), 12:00 PM (ET), and 5:00 PM (BST).

This will be followed by the UFC Abu Dhabi main card, which is expected to begin at 12:00 PM(PT), 3:00 PM (ET), and 8:00 PM (UK).

How to watch and stream UFC Abu Dhabi?

UFC Abu Dhabi will be a UFC on ABC Fight Night event, which means the show will be shown live on ABC in the United States for viewers to enjoy.

Only the main card is expected to be broadcast on ABC, with the prelims shown on ESPN+, and on TNT Sports in the United Kingdom.

UFC Abu Dhabi – who’s fighting?

Main card

Prelims

Robert Whittaker has planned his ‘fairytale ending’ as he reveals UFC future

The fight with de Ridder won’t be Whittaker’s last, but it will be one of the final bouts of his career if everything goes to plan.

Speaking with Fox Sports Australia, Whittaker revealed he has four more fights to earn a title shot, before retiring, ideally as champion, in the fifth remaining fight of his career.

Whittaker said: “Four fights. I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I see—yeah—four. I want four more. That’s me.

“I see the stepping stones needed to do what I want to do. Four fights gets me into that title shot, gets me into a position to, you know, finish on top—to have that fairytale ending.

“So mate, I’m working towards it.”

He has a tough cohort of fighters to deal with in the last years of his career, but Whittaker has the confidence that he can retire a champion in five fights’ time.

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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