UFC great Robert Whittaker has suffered a split decision defeat to Reinier de Ridder in the headline fight in Abu Dhabi.
Australian Whittaker (26-9 MMA, 17-7 UFC) came up short in two of the three judges' eyes, who scored the 185-pound (83.9kg) middleweight bout 48-47 for de Ridder, while a third had it 48-47 for Whittaker on Saturday.
"I don't want to fight anyone like this man again," de Ridder, ranked No.13 in the division, said of the No.5-ranked Whittaker.
"He was too tough. I want to finish a guy in the first round, so maybe it would be better if I fought Khamzat (Chimaev) or Dricus (Du Plessis). Give me my title shot."
Dutchman de Ridder (21-2), who trains in Florida, earned his fourth UFC victory - and third this year.
He submitted Kevin Holland in January, and then knocked out top prospect Bo Nickal in May to earn his first UFC main event. For the 34-year-old Whittaker, it marks the first time he's lost back-to-back fights since 2013.
"I expected to take him (Whittaker) down and choke him out," de Ridder added.
"He was amazing. So tough, so durable, heavy f***ing hands."
According to UFC Stats, de Ridder landed 169 total strikes, compared to 100 for Whittaker, and was also was credited with just over nine minutes of control time. He hurt the Aussie with knees in the second round and bloodied his mouth and nose midway through.
Whittaker's best moment came early in the third when he dropped de Ridder with a counter right hand to the chin, and nearly finished him off with strikes on the ground immediately after. De Ridder managed to survive the onslaught to go on to win the final two rounds.
Ultimately, it was de Ridder's pressure and volume that Whittaker succumbed to, more than his grappling pedigree.
