UFC Abu Dhabi Results - July 26, 2025: Brutal Finishes, Historic Records—Guskov's KO Shocker, de Ridder’s Edge Over Whittaker

Event: UFC Abu Dhabi
Date: July 26, 2025
Location: Etihad Arena | Abu Dhabi, UAE

⏩ Quick Results

Main Card

• Reinier de Ridder def. Robert Whittaker
• Petr Yan def. Marcus McGhee
• Shara Magomedov def. Marc-Andre Barriault
• Asu Almabayev def. Jose Ochoa
• Bogdan Guskov def. Nikita Krylov

Preliminary Card 

• Da’Mon Blackshear def. Davey Grant
• Tabatha Ricci def. Amanda Ribas
• Billy Elekana def. Ibo Aslan
• Steven Nguyen def. Mohammad Yahya
• Martin Buday def. Marcus Buchecha

Preliminary Card Results

Marcus Buchecha vs. Martin Buday

Result: Martin Buday def. Marcus Buchecha via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Referee: Marc Goddard
Judges: Mike Bell, Ben Cartlidge, Sal D'Amato
Records: Buday (16-2), Buchecha (5-2)
Division: Heavyweight

Buchecha struggled with takedown efficiency, and though he controlled Round 2 and nearly submitted Buday, the Slovakian heavyweight rallied in the final round with heavy top control to earn the win.

Steven Nguyen vs. Mohammad Yahya

Result: Steven Nguyen def. Mohammad Yahya via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00
Referee: Jason Herzog
Records: Nguyen (10-2), Yahya (12-6)
Division: Featherweight

Nguyen shattered the UFC record with six knockdowns in a single fight, leaving Yahya’s face disfigured and his left eye completely swollen shut. Despite Yahya’s heart and one brief knockdown of his own, doctors called it after Round 2. The crowd stood stunned, but many fans online demanded Herzog be held accountable for not stopping the fight sooner.

Billy Elekana vs. Ibo Aslan

Result: Billy Elekana def. Ibo Aslan via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Referee: Jim Perdios
Judges: Anders Ohlsson, Mark Collett, Ben Cartlidge
Records: Elekana (7-2), Aslan (14-2)
Division: Light Heavyweight

A low-action chess match turned frustrating for fans, but Elekana’s cleaner striking and consistent front kicks won the day. Aslan simply never found his rhythm in a tepid three-round affair.

Tabatha Ricci vs. Amanda Ribas

Result: Tabatha Ricci def. Amanda Ribas via TKO (Elbow) – Round 2, 2:59
Referee: Daniel Movahedi
Records: Ricci (12-3), Ribas (12-7)
Division: Women’s Strawweight

Ricci survived early clinch pressure and then turned the tide with a vicious elbow in close that dropped Ribas. Follow-up ground shots sealed the TKO. Massive statement win for “Baby Shark.”

Davey Grant vs. Da’Mon Blackshear

Result: Davey Grant def. Da’Mon Blackshear via Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3)
Referee: Jason Herzog
Judges: Mark Collett, David Lethaby, Anders Ohlsson
Records: Grant (15-7), Blackshear (17-8-1)
Division: Bantamweight

Grant weathered early grappling exchanges and dominated the final two rounds with relentless forward pressure, leg kicks, and clean combos. A clinical performance that proved his veteran grit.

Muslim Salikhov vs. Carlos Leal

Result: Muslim Salikhov def. Carlos Leal via Knockout (Punch) – Round 1, 0:42
Referee: Dan Movahedi
Records: Salikhov (22-5), Leal (22-7)
Division: Welterweight

At 41, Salikhov reminded fans why he's “The King of Kung Fu,” flatlining Leal with a perfectly timed right hand in under a minute. Pure highlight-reel material.

Bryce Mitchell vs. Said Nurmagomedov

Result: Bryce Mitchell def. Said Nurmagomedov via Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3)
Referee: Jim Perdios
Judges: Ben Cartlidge, David Lethaby, Anders Ohlsson
Records: Mitchell (18-3), Nurmagomedov (18-5)
Division: Bantamweight

A gritty grappling showcase. Nurmagomedov dropped Mitchell in the first, but “Thug Nasty” adjusted beautifully with relentless takedowns and submission setups, including an arm-triangle in the third.

Main Card Results

🟥 Bogdan Guskov def. Nikita Krylov

📊 Method: TKO (punches) — ⏱️ Round 1, 4:18
🏆 Division: Light Heavyweight
👨‍⚖️ Referee: Marc Goddard
📈 Records: Guskov (18-3), Krylov (30-11)

Guskov let his hands go early and dropped Krylov with a brutal right hand. The follow-up ground-and-pound left no doubt. A definitive win for a rising light heavyweight finisher.

🟥 Asu Almabayev def. Jose Ochoa

📊 Method: Unanimous Decision — 📝 30-27, 30-27, 29-28
🏆 Division: Flyweight
👨‍⚖️ Referee: Jason Herzog
📈 Records: Almabayev (22-3), Ochoa (8-2)

A gritty battle filled with scrambles and submission attempts. Ochoa came close with triangle and armbar threats, but Almabayev’s top control and pressure sealed the decision.

🟥 Shara Magomedov def. Marc-Andre Barriault

📊 Method: Unanimous Decision — 📝 30-27, 30-27, 30-27
🏆 Division: Middleweight
👨‍⚖️ Referee: Jim Perdios
📈 Records: Magomedov (16-1), Barriault (17-10)

Leg kicks, head kicks, and constant movement defined Magomedov’s striking clinic. Barriault pressed forward and had some moments in Round 2, but Magomedov closed strong and left no doubt on the scorecards.

🟥 Petr Yan def. Marcus McGhee

📊 Method: Unanimous Decision — 📝 29-28 x3
🏆 Division: Bantamweight
👨‍⚖️ Referee: Dan Movahedi
📈 Records: Yan (19-5), McGhee (10-2)

McGhee started fast, but Yan turned up the volume with pressure, combinations, and cage control in Rounds 2 and 3. A calculated win from the former champ, who looks hungry again.

🟥 Reinier de Ridder def. Robert Whittaker

📊 Method: Split Decision — 📝 47-48, 48-47, 48-47
🏆 Division: Middleweight
👨‍⚖️ Referee: Marc Goddard
📈 Records: de Ridder (21-2), Whittaker (26-9)

A razor-close five-round war. Whittaker dropped de Ridder in Round 3, but de Ridder’s consistent clinch control, takedowns, and knees to the body may have swayed two of the three judges. The crowd was split — just like the scorecards.

🗣️ MainEvent.News | Backstage Take:

This Abu Dhabi card delivered everything fight fans want — highlight finishes, close decisions, and a few rising stars staking their claims. Bogdan Guskov’s KO over Krylov shook up the light heavyweight division in dramatic fashion. Reinier de Ridder proved he's more than hype with a narrow, tactical win over a former champ, and Petr Yan reminded everyone he’s still a force at bantamweight.

UFC continues to show that even non-PPV events can steal headlines — and build momentum toward blockbuster cards later this summer.

#UFCResults