UFC Abu Dhabi featured 12 bouts with five of them being split off to the main card. In the main event, former UFC middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker, was narrowly defeated by Reinier de Ridder, a man with less than a year of experience within the promotion.
In the co-main event, Marcus McGhee, with less than two years with the UFC, unsuccessfully attempted to take out the former bantamweight champion in Petr Yan. Some aggressive matchmaking produced some losers that are all in unique and different situations due to their time with the promotion, age, and recent fight history.
Robert Whittaker
Robert Whittaker lost a split decision to Reinier de Ridder in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday. The loss marks the first time the Whittaker has lost two bouts in a row since 2014. Whittaker lost to Court McGee and Stephen Thompson before electing to move up to 185 pounds one fight later. Robert has lost three of his last five fights though all losses have been too tough competition (Dricus Du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev, Reinier de Ridder). Rob turns 35 in December but has a lot of miles on him because of all the wars he’s been in. Whittaker entered the bout ranked at #5, while his opponent was ranked at #13.
Whittaker could easily face the winner of #8 Roman Dolidze vs #9 Anthony Hernandez which is the main event for August 9. Timing would be great. Dolidze is on a three-fight win streak while Hernandez has won seven in a row. Matchups between either of these guys and Whittaker would make a lot of sense, giving the winner of this bout a former champ as a test during ascension (especially if the bout ends up being close).
On the other hand, a matchup against the recently suspended former champion, Sean Strickland, could present an interesting bout as well. It was also mentioned in a previous edition of losers. Strickland is also a former welterweight, like Rob, and a striker. They’ve never squared off before and this could be exactly what both men ordered with a dominant win propelling them right back towards elite competition. Dolidze or Hernandez maybe more realistic at this point, but all three men offer a great fight for Whittaker and fight fans.
Whittaker’s next fight: Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Hernandez winner/ Sean Strickland?
Marcus McGhee
Marcus McGhee was masterfully out-struck on his way to a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Petr Yan in the co-main event on Saturday. It was McGhee’s first loss under the UFC promotional banner. Marcus is now 4-1 with the UFC since being signed in early 2023.
Marcus entered the fight ranked at #12 while his opponent was sitting at #3. At 35 years old, even though Marcus has just five fights in the UFC and is just 10-2 as a pro, time is of the essence. That said, McGhee should fight Bryce Mitchell next. Mitchell is an alum of The Ultimate Fighter Season 27, and at one point was a top-ranked featherweight. Bryce went 2-3 from 2022-2025 and was stopped in three defeats (Illia Topuria, Josh Emmett, Jean Silva). In the featured preliminary bout on Saturday, Mitchell dropped to the bantamweight division for the first time since his MMA debut and won an exhausting back-and-forth fight against Said Nurmagomedov.
Timing would make sense and this bout and would give both fighters a huge opportunity. Another chance at a big name for Marcus, who needs momentum fast. And for Bryce, a likely immediate shot at a top ten ranking in the bantamweight division. This fight could be an APEX main card or co-main event type fight. Classic striker vs grappler matchup.
McGhee’s next fight: Bryce Mitchell
Marc-Andre Barriault
Marc-Andre Barriault bloodied and battered his dynamic striking opponent in Shara Magomedov, on his way to a unanimous decision defeat in UFC Abu Dhabi’s Fight of the Night. Barriault has had some rough outcomes over the course of his last few fights, but he always comes prepared to turn in a competitive scrap.
Marc-Andre has won just one of his last five fights (against Bruno Silva). Barriault is 6-9, 1 NC with the UFC, but thanks to his willingness to put it all on the line, he may not be on the hot seat just yet. But make no mistake, he’s on a short list.
With that in mind, Barriault should take on the loser of Gerald Meerschaert vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk. That fight is scheduled for August 16 so the timing would be perfect. Gerald has won just two of his last five fights and is currently riding a two-fight skid (Reinier de Ridder and Brad Tavares). Oleksiejczuk has also won just two of his last five though he was victorious in his most recent octagon appearance against Sedriques Dumas back in April. Michal actually also lost a Fight of the Night-winning, unanimous decision to Shara Magomedov in the bout before that, last August. This fight is right on the level that Marc-Andre needs right now and offers him a different look than the strikers he’s faced recently. This bout could be on the main card of a Fight Night card, but the loser could potentially be in danger of being cut with another loss.
Barriault’s next fight: Cesar Alemeida or Gerald Meerschaert vs Michal Oleksiejczuk loser?
Jose Ochoa
Jose Ochoa was thwarted via a unanimous decision defeat by Asu Almabayev at UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Ochoa entered the bout unranked, accepting a huge opportunity, taking on the #9 ranked Asu Almabayev. Asu was originally scheduled to take on #13 ranked Ramazan Temirov before Temirov withdrew. Ochoa was just 1-1 with the UFC heading into this one; he only had nine pro fights. He lost to Lone’er Kavanagh in his promotional debut. His last time out, he took just two rounds to finish Cody Durden. This was just too much, too soon.
Jose Ochoa’s next fight should be against the loser of Kevin Borjas vs. Sumudaerji. That fight goes down on August 23, so the timing isn’t the best, but it could still be realistic. Sumudaerji is 4-4 with the promotion and has won just one of his last four. That win actually came in his last time out, against Mitch Raposo back in April. Kevin Borjas is 2023 Contender Series product that is 1-2 with the UFC. Though his first loss did come via unanimous decision against the now surging Joshua Van. Borjas also was victorious in his last time out, defeating Ronaldo Rodriguez.
At this point in his UFC career, Jose could draw the winner or loser of this bout. It all just depends on how the fight goes. Could see this bout on the prelims of a PPV card. With the winner drawing a name, though not a ranked one.
Ochoa’s next fight: Kevin Borjas vs. Sumudaerji loser
Nikita Krylov
Bogdan Guskov took just one round to finish Nikita Krylov to kick off the UFC Abu Dhabi main card on Saturday. Nikita entered the fight ranked at #10 within the light heavyweight division while his opponent was ranked at #13. Krylov is now on a two-fight skid- a stark contrast to his three-fight win streak just prior to that. And to make matters worse, Krylov has been finished in the opening round in the back-to-back losses (by Dominick Reyes and Bogdan Guskov)
Let’s keep with the recent theme of aggressive matchmaking on this one. Krylov’s next fight should be against Billy Elekana. Billy made his UFC debut back in January against Bogdan Guskov on short notice. Bogdan was originally supposed to fight Johnny Walker before the Brazilian fighter withdrew due to an injury. Elekana was submitted in the second round of that bout but put on a decent performance, all things considered.
Billy fought Contender Series product, Ibo Aslan, on the prelims Saturday. Elekana looked good in the unanimous decision victory over a four-fight UFC vet. This would be a good clash because although Nikita is 11-9 in the UFC, he’s just 33 years old. This fight still reads as a changing of the guard type of fight and could easily end quickly and violently.
Nikita’s next fight: Billy Elekana
