Abu Dhabi — Reinier de Ridder established his place as a serious title contender in the UFC middleweight division Saturday night by securing a narrow victory over Robert Whittaker. The battle at UFC Fight Night showcased de Ridder’s grit and determination, edging out the seasoned veteran by a split decision.

De Ridder improved his record to 21 wins against two losses following the bout, marking his fourth triumph inside the octagon and third this calendar year. The judging was tight, with two officials scoring the contest 48-47 in favor of de Ridder, while one favored Whittaker by the same margin.

“I thought I could take him down and submit him,” de Ridder acknowledged after the match. He lauded Whittaker’s resilience and striking power, calling him “amazing” and tough to handle in the octagon.

Though the scores reflected a close contest, de Ridder dominated several crucial performance metrics. He landed 169 total strikes compared to Whittaker’s 100 and maintained over nine minutes of control time, both on the ground and against the cage. Key moments included a knee strike that hurt Whittaker in the second round, followed by a significant injury to Whittaker’s face.

Whittaker found success early in the third round, knocking de Ridder down with a perfectly timed counter right hand. Despite sustaining the blow, de Ridder showcased his endurance, rallying to win the final two rounds of the match.

Traditionally recognized for his grappling skills — with 14 of his 21 career wins coming via submission — de Ridder focused intensively on takedown attempts throughout the fight but faced formidable resistance from Whittaker, who successfully defended 13 out of 15 takedown efforts. Ultimately, it was de Ridder’s striking volume and relentless pressure that proved decisive.

This year has been pivotal for de Ridder, who trains at Kill Cliff FC in Florida but hails from the Netherlands. His previous victories include a submission win over Kevin Holland in January and a knockout of rising star Bo Nickal in May.

For Whittaker, this loss marks a troubling trend, as it is the first time since 2013 that he has suffered consecutive defeats. His earlier loss was to Khamzat Chimaev via submission last October.

Following the bout, de Ridder expressed eagerness for a title shot, targeting the victor of the upcoming championship fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Chimaev set for next month. Entering Saturday’s match, de Ridder was positioned at No. 13 in the rankings, while Whittaker was fifth.

“I’m looking to finish quicker next time,” de Ridder commented, expressing his desire to avoid the intense battle he experienced against Whittaker. “Maybe a fight with Khamzat or Dricus would suit me better. I want my title shot now.”