Expert picks, best bets: How can Whittaker bounce back vs. de Ridder at UFC Fight Night?

The UFC volition big its archetypal of 2 2025 combat cards successful Abu Dhabi this weekend, arsenic Robert Whittaker and Reinier de Ridder header UFC Fight Night successful Etihad Arena connected Saturday (3 p.m. ET connected ABC/ESPN+, with prelims astatine noon connected ESPN/ESPN+).

Whittaker, a erstwhile UFC middleweight champion, is ranked No. 6 successful ESPN's divisional rankings. He suffered a first-round submission nonaccomplishment against Khamzat Chimaev successful his past Octagon quality astatine UFC 308 successful October.

De Ridder, unranked by ESPN, is simply a erstwhile two-division champion successful One Championship. De Ridder is undefeated since making his UFC debut astatine a UFC Fight Night past November. He has finished each 3 of his UFC opponents.

ESPN MMA analysts and commentators supply their main lawsuit predictions, and ESPN betting adept Ian Parker adds penetration connected the champion worth bets connected the combat card.

We're not rather definite wherever de Ridder fits successful astatine the highest level, and Whittaker thrives connected turning backmost younger guys from the apical of the division. He's conscionable a amended martial creator successful this case. De Ridder is simply a amended grappler, but I'm unsure whether helium tin instrumentality Whittaker down and clasp him there. De Ridder is coming disconnected a triumph implicit Bo Nickal, but arsenic bully arsenic Nickal has looked, to escalate from that matchup to a apical combatant specified arsenic Robert Whittaker is crazy. -- Anthony Smith

De Ridder has plentifulness of acquisition helium tin pat into. This won't beryllium excessively large of a infinitesimal for him -- warring a five-round main lawsuit against 1 of the champion middleweights successful UFC history. De Ridder's guardant and annoying pressure, arsenic good arsenic his length, volition deterioration connected Whittaker and unit him to marque mistakes. Once Whittaker does that, de Ridder is an unforgiving combatant who doesn't let you to recover. -- Din Thomas

Betting analysis

Odds close arsenic of publication. For the astir up-to-date odds, sojourn ESPN BET.

Parker: Whittaker to triumph (-150). De Ridder is getting his toughest trial to day successful the erstwhile champ. Whittaker is coming disconnected a devastating nonaccomplishment to Chimaev. Can helium bounce back?

I judge helium volition get the triumph present implicit the rising contender. De Ridder's size and grappling quality are his biggest threats. On the feet, his striking is little than desirable, and the level of contention helium has fought frankincense acold doesn't comparison to what Whittaker has faced. Additionally, Whittaker has much acquisition warring successful the title rounds. De Ridder has had lone 1 nonrecreational combat widen beyond Round 3, and we person seen him slice arsenic the combat goes on. Look for Whittaker to halt the aboriginal takedown attempts of de Ridder and support the combat standing, wherever helium gets the triumph by knockout oregon decision.

Parker's champion bets connected the remainder of the card

Men's flyweight: Asu Almabayev vs. Jose Ochoa

Ochoa to triumph (-110). I'm taking Ochoa successful what should beryllium a amusive and fast-paced matchup. Ocha precocious showed his creative, high-level striking and his finishing powerfulness astatine this value class. Ochoa conscionable needs to halt takedown attempts from Almabayev. If helium does that, this combat is his to win. In his past fight, Almabayev had zero occurrence getting Manel Kape to the ground, forcing him into fundamentally a kickboxing fight. As a result, helium was TKO'd successful Round 3. The blueprint to bushed Almabayev is there, and I judge Ochoa follows it to get the win.

Light heavyweight: Nikita Krylov vs. Bogdan Guskov

Krylov to triumph (-185). This is simply a large measurement up successful contention for Guskov aft his caller triumph implicit Billy Elekana. Guskov is simply a skilled striker, but I expect him to beryllium enactment connected his backmost wrong the archetypal 2 minutes of this fight. Krylov, an established UFC veteran, was connected a bully winning streak until losing to Dominick Reyes successful his past outing.

Expect Krylov to wrestle and grapple to instrumentality distant the knockout powerfulness of Guskov. Although Krylov is the amended striker, his biggest vantage is erstwhile the combat hits the mat. He would beryllium brainsick not to get it determination arsenic soon arsenic possible.

Light heavyweight: Ibo Aslan vs. Billy Elekana

Aslan to triumph by KO/TKO. Sitting arsenic a astir 2-to-1 favorite, Alsan looks to get backmost successful the triumph file against Elekana. Aslan inactive needs to amended his crushed crippled and submission defense. Fortunately, Elekana is not a wrestler. This combat volition apt enactment connected the feet, and Aslan should onshore aboriginal and often. Elekana is coming disconnected a atrocious nonaccomplishment successful his UFC debut, and I don't spot this matchup going overmuch differently.