The UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi on July 26, 2025, at the Etihad Arena was a night of exciting fights that combined smart strategies with brutal results. Reinier de Ridder won a hard-fought split decision over Robert Whittaker in the main event. However, Mohammad Yahya left the Octagon with one of the most distressing injuries seen in a long time: a horribly swollen eye that stopped his fight in the second round.
Whittaker vs. de Ridder Results: A Close Call in Abu Dhabi
In the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi, former champion Robert Whittaker fought rising challenger Reinier de Ridder in a five-round middleweight fight. Whittaker was in charge of the fight at first, using quick boxing to score clean counters and knock de Ridder down in the third round. But everything changed rapidly. De Ridder, who is noted for his grappling and pressure fighting, started to pick up speed in rounds four and five. Even though both men looked tired, de Ridder was the one who pushed the pace.
The final numbers told the story: de Ridder hit Whittaker 169 times to 100. Two judges probably gave him the win 48–47 because of his clinch work, volume striking, and control in the late rounds. The third judge gave him the loss. Reinier de Ridder went to 4–0 in the UFC with this win and immediately requested for fights against middleweight stars Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus du Plessis.
This win wasn’t pretty, but it was tough, and it showed that de Ridder can go five hard rounds with one of the toughest fighters in the division.
Co-Main Event: Petr Yan Outclasses Marcus McGhee
In the co-main event of UFC Abu Dhabi, former bantamweight champion Petr Yan fought Marcus McGhee, who was on the rise. The fight started off slowly, but as Yan became comfortable, his experience with striking took over. By the second round, he was hitting more accurately and taking charge of the octagon. McGhee tried to put pressure on late, but he was visibly tired and Yan won by a unanimous decision (29–28 x3).
This was Petr Yan’s third win in a row, and it put him back in the running for the crown. He didn’t get a finish, but the win was technical, calm, and professional. Yan made it evident that he is still one of the most well-rounded competitors in the division and seems to be heading in the right direction to compete for the title again.
Mohammad Yahya Eye Injury: A Shocking End in Abu Dhabi
The preliminary featherweight fight between Mohammad Yahya and Steven Nguyen was the saddest part of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi 2025. What started as a back-and-forth conversation quickly developed into an all-out attack. Nguyen knocked Yahya down six times in the first round alone, breaking the record for most knockdowns in a single round in the UFC.
The beating went on into the second round, and by the time the doctor stopped the fight, Yahya’s left eye was so badly swollen that it looked like a giant balloon. The crowd was shocked by what they saw, as replays showed the eye getting bigger and bigger after each knockdown.
Even though the fight finished in a TKO because the doctor stopped it, a lot of people wondered why it wasn’t stopped sooner. Critics on social media and in the news said that referee Herzog should have stepped in before the second round and stopped the fight. Reports after the fight said that Yahya did not have any orbital fractures and still had vision, but more tests were needed.
The eye injury that Mohammad Yahya got immediately became one of the most talked-about situations of the whole UFC Abu Dhabi card. It could have long-term effects on his future in the sport.
Shara Magomedov Defeats Marc-André Barriault
Shara “Bullet” Magomedov won a unanimous decision against Marc-André Barriault in a vicious, bloody battle that won Fight of the Night honours. Magomedov showed incredible toughness by controlling the fight for all three rounds (30–27 on all scorecards) even though he broke his nose badly in Round 2. He did this by using precise strikes and evasive movement.
The Russian middleweight, who lost sight in one eye in 2016, bounced back from his first career loss earlier this year in a big way and made it clear that he wants to move up the UFC rankings. Barriault put on a lot of pressure and power early on, but as the fight went on, Magomedov’s volume and toughness wore him down. The battle made Magomedov even more well-known as a tough, dangerous fighter and a crowd favourite when the UFC came back to Abu Dhabi.
What Comes Next?
Reinier de Ridder’s win over Whittaker changes the UFC middleweight scene. De Ridder is now a real contender, and matchmakers will probably want to put him in a high stakes fight shortly. In a fight that might have gone either way, he stood out because he was tough, could handle pressure, and could change his strategy in the middle of the fight.
Petr Yan’s fight in Abu Dhabi kept his ambitions of winning the bantamweight title alive. He may soon get a high-stakes fight against a top-5 name because of how calm and experienced he is.
The night included some great performances from up-and-coming fighters, but Yahya’s eye injury was a harsh reminder of how intense MMA can be. UFC Abu Dhabi 2025 had a lot of drama, movement among contenders, and amazing moments. This might mean that the second half of the year will be crazy in a lot of divisions.
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