Reinier de Ridder has officially entered the world of the middleweight elite after a grueling battle against Robert Whittaker at UFC Abu Dhabi.

The main event in Abu Dhabi features a ranked middleweight matchup between Robert Whittaker and Reinier de Ridder. Coming from a traditional martial arts base, Whittaker has developed into one of the more unique striking stylists at 185 pounds.

At UFC 308 inside Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena, Whittaker was quickly submitted by Khamzat Chimaev, who locked in a gruesome face crank that displaced the Australian former champion’s front teeth. Despite the nature of that loss, it is a different defeat that has ‘The Reaper’ wishing for a chance at a do-over.

"We would have crossed that bridge when we got there," Robert Whittaker smirked when asked whether he had contingencies in place in case things didn’t exactly go according to plan with Israel Adesanya.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/fannation/mma as UFC bogeyman flattened Robert Whittaker’s teeth with savage choke. Robert Whittaker returns from one of the most devastating losses of his career when he steps in the Octagon this weekend at UFC Abu Dhabi.

‘The Reaper’ will be back at Etihad Arena on July 26, the scene of Whittaker’s crushing loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308. ‘The Reaper’ marked the latest fighter to attempt to blemish Chimaev’s perfect record, but a brutal face crank quickly ruined those plans – and the Australian’s front teeth.

Robert Whittaker joins before his headliner in Abu Dhabi against the streaking Reinier de Ridder to discuss his dream retirement fight, having his 6th kid, Khamzat-Dricus, Australia’s UFC takeover, sparring Tim Tszyu and Jai Opetaia,