Robert Whittaker is set for his return to the octagon, a bout that was arranged surprisingly quickly.
The UFC recently announced that Whittaker`s comeback fight this summer will be against former ONE two-division champion Reinier de Ridder, headlining UFC Abu Dhabi. This will be Whittaker`s first contest since suffering a severe mouth injury against Khamzat Chimaev. The opponent choice was somewhat unexpected, as Whittaker had been linked to several other fighters. Whittaker explained that the fight simply came together due to opportune timing.
Whittaker recounted on his YouTube channel that he told his manager to contact the UFC, stating he was looking for a fight in late June or early July, with International Fight Week being a good target. At that time, he was also mentioning Sean Strickland as a possibility, believing it made sense given their respective standings and the fact they had not fought before.
The UFC responded, informing him that Strickland was just getting back into training and his fight timing was uncertain, but Roman Dolidze was ready and willing. Whittaker was prepared to accept the Dolidze fight immediately.
However, just four days ago, Whittaker received a different offer: Reinier de Ridder (RDR) in the main event in Abu Dhabi on July 28. He expressed amusement and confusion regarding the abrupt change in opponent.
Despite the sudden shift, Whittaker accepted the offer. Earlier this month, de Ridder became the first fighter to defeat Bo Nickal, winning the co-main event at UFC Des Moines. While this win didn`t significantly boost “RDR”`s ranking, it certainly raised his profile, making him an appealing opponent for Whittaker.
Whittaker stated that the main reason for accepting was that the date fit perfectly into his schedule. He acknowledged that de Ridder wasn`t in the Top 10 yet but recognized him as a tough challenge, noting his two titles in ONE Championship and predicting he would enter the Top 10 soon. Seeing it as a difficult fight available on a good date, he accepted instantly.
He feels the situation worked out well, highlighting that the fight is 11 weeks away, a main event, and scheduled for five rounds, which he enjoys. He also mentioned the pleasure of seeing his image on a promotional poster, which his children appreciate, and looks forward to the upcoming work.
For Whittaker, the fight against de Ridder presents an opportunity to recover from his tough loss to Chimaev and solidify his position in the middleweight division (185 pounds). At 34 years old, “The Reaper” is aware he has limited time left in his career to achieve his ambitions in MMA.
Whittaker expressed excitement for the fight and a strong desire to return to the winning column. He mentioned having only a couple of years left in his career and aiming for a “fairytale ending,” inspired by others. His dream is to work his way back to the title, win the belt, and then retire.
UFC Abu Dhabi is scheduled for July 26 at Etihad Arena.
Wesley Dunham 
Marcus Blakely