Robert Whittaker isn’t hanging his head after falling short in a tightly contested battle at UFC Abu Dhabi. The former UFC middleweight champion dropped a split decision loss to Reinier de Ridder in Saturday’s main event, but he remains focused and eager to return stronger.
Whittaker shared his thoughts on the bout in a reflective statement posted on Instagram just days after the loss. Despite coming close to finishing the fight with a knockdown in the third round, the judges gave the edge to de Ridder with two 48-47 scorecards.
“I’m disappointed, but I’m not disheartened,” Whittaker said. “There are a lot of things I liked about the fight, but a lot of things I didn’t. I’m going to take it all, head back to the gym, sit with the team, pick it apart, and then get back on the horse. That’s all you can do.
“Congratulations to de Ridder. He had a particular game plan, he executed it well. It got him the win. It is what it is sometimes, but yeah, I’m going to learn from this experience and move forward.”
This marks the first time since 2014 that Whittaker has suffered back-to-back losses. He previously fell to Khamzat Chimaev in October 2024 via a face crank submission and hoped to bounce back in Abu Dhabi. Despite his best efforts, the former champ now faces even longer odds in the race for another title shot.
Still, Whittaker’s message remains consistent, he’s not done yet. With his mind already on what’s next, the 16-year veteran has his sights set on a return to home soil.
“This isn’t the end of Robert Whittaker,” he said. “This is just another learning curve, another speed bump. I’m going to spend some time with my family, I’m going to just rest, recover a little bit, and then hopefully get back on an Australian card.
“It’s been a while, and honestly, I’m longing for it. It’s been a while since I’ve fought in Australia, and I’d love to fight here again. It’s time.”
With 26 wins in his 35-fight career and a deep legacy in the UFC middleweight division, Whittaker continues to carry himself like a champion, regardless of outcomes.
