In the UFC on ABC 9 main event Saturday, de Ridder (21-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) defeated former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (26-9 MMA, 17-7 UFC) over five rounds. The decision was a split set of 48-47 scorecards. The event took place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

During Saturday’s UFC Abu Dhabi fight card, the UFC announced that high-profile UFC free agent signing Aaron Pico would face the undefeated Lerone Murphy in the co-main event of the UFC 319 pay-per-vi...