UFC on ABC 9 live results: Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder

The Octagon returns to Abu Dhabi for the first of two events in 2025 as UFC On ABC 9 takes place inside the Etihad Arena on Yas Island.

The main event is a big battle at middleweight as former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker takes on rising contender Reinier de Ridder. Whittaker is looking to rebound following a loss to Khamzat Chimaev in October. de Ridder is in his first main event as he looks to continue the strong start to his UFC career and move to 4-0 in the promotion.

In the co-main event, it’s a battle at bantamweight as former UFC Bantamweight Champion Petr Yan takes on Marcus McGhee.

Also on the main card is a middleweight fight pitting Shara Magomedov against Marc-Andre Barriault; a flyweight bout between Asu Almabayev and Jose Ochoa; and a light heavyweight slugfest between Nikita Krylov and Bogdan Guskov.

ESPN PRELIMS | 12 PM ET/9 AM PT

> Heavyweights- #13 Martin Buday (15-2, 6-1 UFC) vs. Marcus Buchecha (5-1, 0-0 UFC)

They trade jabs and Buchecha with a front kick. Buchecha gets a brief takedown but Buday is able to scramble up. Buchecha stays on his back for a moment before being ordered up. Buchecha shoots for a takedown but Buday defends. Buchecha lands and looks to get Buday down and is able to pull guard, but Buday stands. Buchecha is told to stand. Buchecha lands a pair of right hands and grabs the body. Buday lands a knee and they break. Buchecha throws a front kick and Buday lands a right hand. Buchecha tries a single leg but Buday defends. Buday lands a big right hand. They trade in close range. Buchecha lands a right hand and they clinch. They trade knees and Buchecha lands an elbow and right hand. They trade before tying up. 10-9 Buchecha.

Buday lands a right hand. He throws a front kick as Buday lands a right hand. Buchecha scores a takedown and is in the guard of Buday. Buchecha lands some punches and elbows to the body. Buchecha looking for an arm and a kimura but Buday escapes, though he gives up his back. Buchecha landing from the back. Buchecha with right hands. Buchecha looking to set up a choke. Buday is able to slip out and ends up on top. Buday ends the round on top. 10-9 Buchecha, 20-18 Buchecha.

Buday lands a leg kick. Buday lands a right hand. Buday lands a left hook. Buchecha looks for a takedown but Buday defends. Buchecha looks to get Buday down but Buday defends. Buchecha keeps spamming takedown attempts but Buday is defending and landing punches. Buchecha tries to pull guard but Buday is on top and lands a pair of elbows. Buchecha is able to scramble to Buday’s back and is landing punches. Buchecha has the hooks on and is taking control of an arm. Buday is trying to scramble up as Buchecha lands some short punches. Buday gets on top and lands some hammerfists. Close fight. 10-9 Buday, 29-28 Buchecha.

Fight Result- Martin Buday def. Marcus Buchecha by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Featherweights- Mohammad Yahya (12-5, 0-2 UFC) vs. Steven Nguyen (9-2, 0-1 UFC)

Nguyen drops Yahya with a massive right hand to start and tries to land from the top but Yahya gets up. Yahya lands a kick and Nguyen lands a left hand and Yahya briefly goes down, but gets up. Nguyen continues to land punches. Nguyen lands and Yahya goes back down but he gets right back up. Nguyen lands a right hand and Yahya goes back down after Nguyen lands a left hand. Yahya gets back to his feet. Yahya lands a leg kick and Nguyen connects with a right hand. Yahya is still throwing. They trade inside the pocket and Nguyen drops Yahya again after connecting. Nguyen lands from the top but Yahya rolls to his feet and gets a brief takedown, but they get up. Nguyen drops Yahya again with a big right hand and lands. Ridiculous round from Nguyen. 10-8 Nguyen.

Yahya was stumbling to his stool between rounds but we continue. They trade in close range and Yahya rocks Nguyen, who stumbles back. They start trading and Nguyen drops Yahya for a sixth time in the fight. Nguyen gets on top and lands some punches. Nguyen controlling from the top and looks for an arm-triangle choke as he has the mount. Yahya scrambles to his feet. Yahya lands a right hand. Nguyen lands a right hand that hurts Yahya. Yahya looks for a takedown but Nguyen defends and they break. They trade and Nguyen lands a big left hook. Nguyen with a pair of uppercuts. Yahya’s left eye is completely closed and he probably has a broken orbital bone. Nguyen drops Yahya again with another right hand. 10-9 Nguyen, 20-17 Nguyen.

The fight has been stopped as Yahya can’t continue due to the damage to his left eye.

Fight Result- Steven Nguyen def. Mohammad Yahya by TKO (doctor stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 2

> Light Heavyweights- Ibo Aslan (14-2, 2-1 UFC) vs. Billy Elekana (7-2, 0-1 UFC)

Aslan with some early leg kicks as Elekana lands a pair of body kicks. Both looking for openings to land punches. They trade a few punches as Aslan lands more leg kicks. Elekana with a body kick. Elekana with more front kicks to the body. Aslan lands a right hand. Elekana with a left hand. Aslan lands a body kick. Elekana with a body kick. 10-9 Elekana.

They trade kicks. Elekana lands a jab. Elekana lands a left hand. Aslan lands a leg kick as Elekana lands a left hand. Elekana with a pair of front body kicks. Aslan with a pair of jabs. Elekana looks for a single leg but Aslan defends. Aslan with a high kick. 10-9 Elekana, 20-18 Elekana.

They trade leg kicks as both are still looking to land solid shots. Elekana lands a left hand. Elekana with a left hook. Elekana with a left hand and Aslan’s head snaps back. Aslan with a double jab. Aslan with a jab and Elekana lands a left hand. Elekana lands a combo and then a left hand. Elekana with a left hand. They trade in close range and Elekana lands late. 10-9 Elekana, 30-27 Elekana.

Fight Result- Billy Elekana def. Ibo Aslan by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

> Women’s Strawweights- #7 Amanda Ribas (13-6, 7-5 UFC) vs. #10 Tabatha Ricci (11-3, 6-3 UFC)

Ribas just misses a spin kick. Ricci lands a left hand. Ricci pushes it to the fence as Ribas defends. Ribas gets a big takedown and is in side control. Ricci is able to get up as they stay tied up. They trade knees. Ricci lands a pair of short knees. Ribas is landing to the body to defend. They are both landing while tied up against the fence. They are separated. Ribas with a leg kick and left hand. They trade and Ricci pushes it to the fence. They separate. Both are throwing sloppy punches but neither landing. Ricci lands a right hand. They trade right hands. 10-9 Ribas.

Both looking to land as Ricci is trying to initiate a clinch. Ricci lands a body kick. Ribas lands a left hand then a right hand and a leg kick. Ricci grabs the body and pushes it against the fence. Ricci lands a pair of elbows. She lands another and Ricci gets Ribas down. Ricci is landing lots of big punches and it is stopped! Ricci with a finish out of nowhere.

Fight Result- Tabatha Ricci def. Amanda Ribas by TKO (strikes) at 2:59 of Round 2

> Bantamweights- Davey Grant (14-7, 7-6 UFC) vs. Da’Mon Blackshear (17-7-1, 5-3-1 UFC)

Grant lands a leg kick. Grant lands more leg kicks. Blackshear scores a takedown and has the back of Grant. He’s looking for a choke as Grant tries to escape. Blackshear gets the hooks on as they scramble. Blackshear looks for the choke as he has a face crank on. Blackshear lets go. Blackshear is attacking the arm and looking for an armbar. Blackshear is unable to lock it in as the round ends. 10-9 Blackshear.

Blackshear with a body kick as Grant lands a right hand. Blackshear with a body kick. Grant with a right hand to the body. Grant with a leg kick. Blackshear lands a combo. Grant lands a combination ending with a head kick. Grant lands a left hand then a body kick. Blackshear with a leg kick then a high kick. Grant lands a right hand and a leg kick. Blackshear with a right hand. Grant lands a left hook. Grant lands a right hand. Grant with a combo ending with a high kick. Grant with two more high kicks. 10-9 Grant, 19-19.

Grant is pressing forward and landing punches and body kicks. Grant lands a leg kick. Grant with another hard calf kick. Grant lands. Blackshear looks for a takedown but Grant defends and then Grant lands inside the pocket. Blackshear looks for a takedown but Grant sprawls. Grant with a leg kick and then a combination. Grant lands a combo. Grant with a stiff leg kick. He lands another. Blackshear lands a jab and a right hand. Grant with another leg kick. He keeps landing them. Blackshear shoots for a takedown but Grant defends again and then lands a combo. Grant with a body kick. 10-9 Grant, 29-28 Grant.

Fight Result- Davey Grant def. Da’Mon Blackshear by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Welterweights- Muslim Salikhov (21-5, 8-4 UFC) vs. Carlos Leal (22-6, 1-1 UFC)

They trade left hands. Salikhov lands a body kick. Leal with a straight left hand. Salikhov lands a massive right hand and Leal goes down and is out and it is all over! What a knockout by Salikhov!

Fight Result- Muslim Salikhov def. Carlos Leal by knockout (punch) at :42 of Round 1

> Bantamweights- Bryce Mitchell (17-3, 8-3 UFC) vs. Said Nurmagomedov (18-4, 7-3 UFC)

Nurmagomedov lands a head kick then a leg kick. Nurmagomedov lands a left hand. Nurmagomedov lands some more and Mitchell grabs the body and briefly gets it down, but they scramble right back up. They battle against the fence and Nurmagomedov lands on the break. Nurmagomedov lands a knee and Mitchell goes down to the mat. Nurmagomedov gets on top and lands some. Mitchell trying to throw his legs up. Mitchell with small punches from the bottom. They scramble up. Nurmagomedov lands a knee as they’re tied up. 10-9 Nurmagomedov.

Mitchell looks for a takedown against the fence and is able to get Nurmagomedov down. Mitchell is attacking an arm as Nurmagomedov is landing to the body from the bottom. Mitchell is pressuring from the top and now looking to set up a choke. Nurmagomedov is able to reverse to the top. They scramble up and Mitchell has the back and is able to drag Nurmagomedov back down and has back control. They stand and Nurmagomedov lands a knee. Nurmagomedov throws a spin attack but Mitchell ducks under and gets a takedown. 10-9 Mitchell, 19-19.

They tie right up and Nurmagomedov grabs the neck. Mitchell gets it down but Nurmagomedov has a mounted guillotine choke, but Mitchell escapes. Nurmagomedov works from the top. Mitchell is able to reverse to the top. Mitchell is working for an arm-triangle choke. Nurmagomedov is grabbing the cage to try and defend. He grabs it twice more. Mitchell takes the back with the hooks in as Nurmagomedov was trying to escape. Mitchell is controlling as Nurmagomedov again grabs the fence with his feet. 10-9 Mitchell, 29-28 Mitchell.

Fight Result- Bryce Mitchell def. Said Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

ABC MAIN CARD | 3 PM ET/12 PM PT

> Light Heavyweights- #10 Nikita Krylov (30-10, 11-8 UFC) vs. #13 Bogdan Guskov (17-3, 3-1 UFC)

Krylov with a high kick. He lands a leg kick. Guskov with an inside leg kick. Krylov lands a big right hand. Krylov with a leg kick. Guskov lands a combo. Guskov with a left hand. Guskov with a right hand to the body. Guskov lands a big right hand. Krylov lands as Guskov was rushing forward. Krylov lands a leg kick. Guskov lands a right hand. Krylov with a body kick. Guskov drops Krylov with a right hand and starts landing from the top. Guskov gets the back and starts to land and it is all over! Guskov gets the big finish in the first.

Fight Result- Bogdan Guskov def. Nikita Krylov by TKO (punches) at 4:18 of Round 1

> Flyweights- #9 Asu Almabayev (21-3, 4-1 UFC) vs. Jose Ochoa (8-1 1 NC, 1-1 UFC)

They trade leg kicks. Both throw punches before Almabayev ties it up. Ochoa lands some knees to break, but Almabayev pushes it against the fence. Almabayev pressuring against the fence as Ochoa lands some body shots. Almabayev gets a takedown into side control and gets back control as they scramble up. Almabayev with some knees to the body before he jumps on the back. He lets go and they separate. Almabayev with a right hand and a head kick. Almabayev gets the back and drags it back down. Almabayev cranks around the chin. Almabayev working for a choke. Almabayev jumps off and they trade. They break apart. Almabayev with a right hand. He goes for a spin kick but Ochoa grabs the back and takes it down with the body triangle on. 10-9 Almabayev.

Almabayev shoots for a takedown after landing low kicks, but Ochoa defends and they separate. Ochoa lands and Almabayev shoots for a takedown, but Ochoa defends and lands a knee as they break. Almabayev scores a takedown. They scramble and Almabayev pushes it against. They separate. Ochoa lands a knee but Almabayev is able to take him down. Almabayev lands from the top. Almabayev controlling from the top as Ochoa looks for a triangle choke. 10-9 Almabayev, 20-18 Almabayev.

Almabayev lands a leg kick. He ducks under a right hand from Ochoa and grabs the body and scores a takedown. Almabayev was grabbing the fence so Jason Herzog separates them. Almabayev shoots for a takedown, but Ochoa grabs the neck and looks for a guillotine choke, but Almabayev slips his head out. Almabayev starts landing from the top and lands some hammerfists. Ochoa is able to scramble to his feet. Ochoa lands a left hand as they break a clinch. Almabayev lands a big right hand. Almabayev looks for a takedown against the fence as Ochoa lands some elbows to defend. They trade knees before separating. Almabayev grabs the back as the fight ends. 10-9 Almabayev, 30-27 Almabayev.

Fight Result- Asu Almabayev def. Jose Ochoa by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

> Middleweights- Shara Magomedov (15-1, 4-1 UFC) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (17-9 1 NC, 6-8 1 NC UFC)

Magomedov landing lots of leg kicks to start as Barriault is pressuring him around. Barriault shoots for a takedown against the fence. Barriault gets a takedown and Magomedov grabs the fence trying to help himself get up. They stand and separate. Magomedov lands a leg kick. They clinch against the fence and Magomedov lands a pair of knees and an elbow as they separate. Magomedov lands a leg kick. Barriault clinches it against the fence. Magomedov lands some elbows as they break. Magomedov barely lands a spin kick. 10-9 Magomedov.

Magomedov lands some low kicks to start the second. Magomedov lands a combo. Barriault with a leg kick. They tie up and Magomedov lands a knee and Barriault lands a right hand on the break. Magomedov lands an elbow that cuts Barriault open. Magomedov starting to land with lots of volume moving forward and landing kicks. Barriault lands a big right hand and pushes Magomedov against the fence and lands an uppercut. Magomedov is bleeding from the nose and Barriault lands as they separate. Barriault pushes it against the fence and lands some dirty boxing. Magomedov starts teeing off against Barriault against the fence and has Barriault in trouble but they make it to the end of the round. 10-9 Magomedov, 20-18 Magomedov.

They trade before tying up against the fence. They break and Magomedov lands a high kick. Magomedov lands a right hand as Barriault rushes in. Magomedov with a jab as Barriault lands a leg kick. Magomedov with a short left hook. Magomedov with a flying knee as Barriault rushes in and lands an elbow on the break. Magomedov with a heavy leg kick. Magomedov lands a pair of elbows as they break a clinch. Magomedov with a jumping knee and a head kick. Magomedov looks for a takedown and lands a knee before getting it down. Magomedov with a big flurry from the top and he looks for a late finish but time runs out. 10-9 Magomedov, 30-27 Magomedov.

Fight Result- Shara Magomedov def. Marc-Andre Barriault by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Bantamweights- #3 Petr Yan (18-5, 10-4 UFC) vs. #12 Marcus McGhee (10-1, 4-0 UFC)

McGhee with a body kick. McGhee with an inside leg kick. McGhee with a jab. Yan lands a leg kick. Yan with a right hook. Yan lands a leg kick then a left hand. McGhee with a knee. Yan lands a leg kick. Yan with a right hand. McGhee lands a combo. They tie up and Yan with some uppercuts before they break. McGhee lands a combination. Yan lands a combo. McGhee with an inside leg kick. McGhee with a leg kick. Yan lands a big combo. Yan with a right hand. They trade. Close round. 10-9 Yan.

Yan pressing forward. He throws and McGhee ducks under and looks for a takedown. Yan defends and they separate. McGhee lands a combination. McGhee with a right hook to the body. McGhee with a short uppercut. Yan with a high kick. Yan lands a big combination. McGhee with a knee and Yan lands a left hand then a right hand. McGhee is cut open but lands some punches and an elbow. Yan with a massive right hand. Yan with an uppercut and big elbow in a brief clinch. Yan with a jumping knee. McGhee with a jab. Yan lands a stiff jab. Yan lands a combo to the body. Yan with a quick flurry. Yan with a knee and a right hand. Yan lands a left hand. Yan with a right hand. 10-9 Yan, 20-18 Yan.

They both land in close range. Yan lands a combination. Yan lands a combination against the fence. Yan grabs the back of McGhee against the fence and lands some knees. Yan with more knees to the butt and legs. Yan keeping the pressure against the fence as he keeps landing knees and gets a brief trip before they get right up. They spin and McGhee is trying for a takedown but Yan is landing to defend. They separate and Yan lands a head kick. Yan trips McGhee to the mat and looks for a kimura. Yan has the back as they stand and lands some knees and body shots. 10-9 Yan, 30-27 Yan.

Fight Result- Petr Yan def. Marcus McGhee by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Middleweights- #5 Robert Whittaker (26-8, 17-6 UFC) vs. #13 Reinier de Ridder (20-2, 3-0 UFC)

de Ridder throws wildly right away. de Ridder grabs the single leg and Whittaker is landing to defend and de Ridder lets go. They tie up and de Ridder with some short knees. They break apart. Whittaker lands a combo. de Ridder shoots for a takedown but Whittaker defends and lands a jab. Whittaker lands a pair of jabs. Whittaker lands a combination. de Ridder looks for a takedown but Whittaker defends. de Ridder lands a knee to the body. They break apart and Whittaker lands a jab. de Ridder with a high kick. Whittaker with a left hook. de Ridder lands a knee. Whittaker lands a right hand. 10-9 Whittaker.

They trade and de Ridder connects as Whittaker slips. Whittaker with a high kick that de Ridder blocks. de Ridder with a jab but eats a right hook from Whittaker. Whittaker lands a combo. de Ridder with a left hand. de Ridder with a step-in knee. Whittaker lands a right hand. de Ridder with another knee. Whittaker lands a jab. de Ridder with a big knee and he takes Whittaker down. de Ridder gets into the full guard of Whittaker. de Ridder working from the top as he lands to the body. de Ridder with some punches from inside the guard. de Ridder with an elbow from the top. 10-9 de Ridder, 19-19.

de Ridder lands a knee and lands a combination and Whittaker is backing up. Whittaker then drops de Ridder with a punch and starts landing from the top. Whittaker with some right hands from the top. de Ridder is able to escape to his feet. They clinch against the fence. They separate. Whittaker lands a left hand. de Ridder scores a takedown. de Ridder controlling from the top as he’s trying to pass guard to mount. de Ridder was looking to set up a D’Arce choke but Whittaker blocks it. de Ridder with some body shots. de Ridder with some shots from the top at the end. Close round. 10-9 Whittaker, 29-28 Whittaker.

de Ridder lands a knee and pushes it against the fence. de Ridder with some knees. They separate. Whittaker misses before de Ridder pushes him against the fence. They separate. de Ridder with a shoulder strike. de Ridder tries a takedown but Whittaker ends up taking the back and they separate as they stand. de Ridder with a jab. Whittaker lands a jab. de Ridder with a left hand and Whittaker lands a right hand. Whittaker lands a right hand and then works the jab. Whittaker lands a right hand. de Ridder with a knee to the body. de Ridder lands a left hand. 10-9 de Ridder, 38-38.

Whittaker with a double jab. Whittaker landing as de Ridder looks for a takedown, but Whittaker defends. de Ridder pushes it against the fence. They separate and de Ridder lands a knee before they clinch back up. They break apart. Whittaker lands a jab and de Ridder looks for a takedown, but Whittaker defends and they clinch against the fence. They break apart but de Ridder gets it clinched back up. Whittaker separates. Whittaker with a body shot. They clinch back up but separate. Whittaker lands as he presses forward. They tie back up. Close fight. 10-9 Whittaker, 48-47 Whittaker.

Fight Result- Reinier de Ridder def. Robert Whittaker by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47)