DraftKings MMA, UFC DFS Lineup Picks - UFC Abu Dhabi: Whittaker vs. de Ridder

DraftKings MMA, UFC DFS Lineup Picks - UFC Abu Dhabi: Whittaker vs. de Ridder on 7/26/25. Alen's MMA DFS analysis to build winning daily fantasy UFC lineups.

After last week's banger of an event, the leading promotion returns to Abu Dhabi for a Fight Night card featuring multiple former champions and a slew of promising rising contenders. The card is headlined by fan favorite former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker taking on former two-division ONE champion Reinier de Ridder in a fight that could determine a future title challenger, while the co-main features a bantamweight bout between former bantamweight champion Petr Yan and surging Marcus McGhee.

To open up the UFC Abu Dhabi main card, we have a light heavyweight bout between Nikita Krylov and Bogdan Guskov, followed by a flyweight fight between Asu Almabayev and Jose Ochoa. Also on the main card, UFC prospect Shara Magomedov is scheduled to take on Marc-Andre Barriault in a middleweight bout.

In this article, I will be providing you with my fantasy MMA lineup picks for UFC Abu Dhabi: Whittaker vs. de Ridder on 7/26/25. Give me a follow on X @sumpor5. Good luck!

DraftKings MMA Middleweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks 

Robert Whittaker, $8.4K - vs. Reinier de Ridder

Former middleweight champion Whittaker and former two-division ONE champion de Ridder are scheduled for the UFC Abu Dhabi main event on Saturday. Whittaker will look to bounce back while de Ridder looks to extend his win streak.

Fight styles clash in the main event! 👀@RobWhittakerMMA vs Reinier de Ridder

[ LIVE TOMORROW 3pmET on ABC | #UFCAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/I5tQQFpFR6

— UFC (@ufc) July 25, 2025

Whittaker is looking to rebound from his first-round face crank submission loss to next middleweight title challenger Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 back in October. The former champion didn't have a chance to get going as Chimaev immediately took Whittaker down and applied a face crank, which put pressure on the former champion's jaw, causing his bottom teeth to cave in. Prior to that loss, Whittaker defeated  Ikram Aliskerov in Riyadh, after Aliskerov came in on short notice for Chimaev.

Since joining the UFC, de Ridder has been on a tear, and now, he will look to enter the title conversation this weekend when he faces his biggest challenge yet. He made his UFC debut in November at UFC Vegas 100 against Gerald Meerschaert, where he won via third-round arm triangle choke submission. In his next fight, de Ridder easily submitted Kevin Holland via a first-round rear-naked choke. De Ridder was last seen in action in May at UFC Des Moines, where he dominated and finished UFC prospect and previously undefeated Bo Nickal via second-round TKO.

Whittaker enters this fight with an MMA record of 26-8 and 17-6 in the UFC. He averages 4.54 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 43%. Whittaker is absorbing 3.41 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 59%. Regarding his wrestling, Whittaker is averaging 0.80 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 38% and a takedown defense of 81%.

De Ridder enters this fight with an MMA record of 20-2 and 3-0 in the UFC. He is averaging 3.25 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 60%. De Ridder is absorbing 2.21 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 44%. His grappling has been elite in the UFC, averaging 4.74 takedowns every 15 minutes and 1.4 submission attempts during the same period. He has a takedown accuracy of 38% and a takedown defense of 66%.

De Ridder showed success in the UFC because he never ran into a fighter who's good in every aspect of MMA. He's 3-0 in UFC thus far, and each of those fighters he faced in those three bouts possessed weaknesses that Whittaker simply doesn't have. I truly believe Whittaker is a terrible matchup for de Ridder. I think that Wittaker's takedowns, defense, and striking will be too much for de Ridder. My prediction is that Whittaker is going to finish de Ridder inside three rounds.

DraftKings MMA Bantamweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks 

Petr Yan, $9.3K - vs. Marcus McGhee

On Saturday, former bantamweight champion Petr Yan is scheduled to face off against Marcus McGhee in the co-main event of UFC Abu Dhabi. Both Yan and McGhee will look to extend their win streak and get one step closer to the title shot.

Bantamweights battle in a high stakes matchup! ⚔️@PetrYanUFC vs Marcus McGhee

[ LIVE TOMORROW 3pmET on ABC | #UFCAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/svvRz5YJaH

— UFC (@ufc) July 25, 2025

After losing to former bantamweight champions Aljamain Sterling and Sean O'Malley, current bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, and some bad luck and questionable decision-making, Yan got back on track by defeating Song Yadong via unanimous decision. The former champion Yan was last seen in action back in November at UFC Macau, where he outclassed former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo and defeated him via unanimous decision. Widely regarded as one of the most technically skilled bantamweights in MMA history, Yan has gone 10-4 in his UFC career.

For quite some time, McGhee has quietly defeated almost every opponent that's been put in front of him. After losing to Rafael do Nascimento, who was his only loss, McGhee has been on a tear, finishing five out of his last six opponents. Since joining the promotion, McGhee has gone 4-0, earning three “Performance of the Night” bonuses in the process. McGhee was last seen in action back in November at UFC 309, where he defeated Jonathan Martinez via unanimous decision. With that being said, this is by far the biggest test of McGhee's career.

Yan enters this fight with an MMA record of 18-5. He is averaging 5.11 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 54%. Yan absorbs 4.13 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 58%. His grappling is solid, averaging 1.61 takedowns every 15 minutes. His takedown accuracy is 49% and his takedown defense is 84%.

McGhee enters this fight with an MMA record of 10-1. He is averaging 6.06 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 48%. McGhee absorbs 2.83 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 64%. His grappling hasn't been strong, averaging 0.46 takedowns every 15 minutes. His takedown accuracy is 33% and his takedown defense is 100%.

Although McGhee has been on a tear, I think he has little chance against former champion Yan. In the past, Yan has had problems with elite wrestlers, and McGhee is not an elite wrestler. Yan is just better everywhere, except when it comes to physicality. The safe bet is that the former champion will use his elite striking and criminally underrated grappling game and cardio to outclass McGhee across three rounds. My prediction is that Yan will win this bout via unanimous decision.

DraftKings MMA Middleweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks 

Shara Magomedov, $9.6K - vs. Marc-Andre Barriault

Magomedov and Barriault are scheduled for a three-round middleweight bout on the main card of UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Magomedov will look to get back in the win column after suffering his first loss, while Barriault will look to win back-to-back fights.

Middleweights meet in the Octagon tomorrow! 🫡@Shara_Bullet77 vs Marc-Andre Barriault

[ LIVE TOMORROW 3pmET on ABC | #UFCAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/1EagZDYkde

— UFC (@ufc) July 25, 2025

After starting his UFC career with four wins, previously unbeaten Magomedov lost his perfect record in his last fight in February at UFC Saudi Arabia, where he got outpointed and outclassed by Michael Page. Best known for his spectacular double spinning backfist knockout over Armen Petrosyan at UFC 308, Magomedov is also credited with beating Michal Oleksiejczuk, Antonio Trocoli, and Bruno Silva. Once known as one of the best UFC prospects, this is an extremely important fight for Magomedov. If he loses a second time, much of the hype around his rise could fade.

After losing three consecutive fights, first to Chris Curtis via split decision, then losing to Joe Pyfer via first-round knockout, followed by his first-round knockout loss to Dustin Stoltzfus, Barriault got back in the win column in his last bout by finishing Bruno Silva via first-round knockout. Since signing with the promotion, Barriault has had 15 fights, going 6-8 with one NC. Known as a very much kill-or-be-killed fighter with serious punching power.

Magomedov enters this fight with an MMA record of 15-1 and 4-1 in the UFC. Magomedov is averaging 5.87 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 62%. He absorbs 4.13 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 42%. While Magomedov has not shown any grappling ability in the UFC, he has a takedown defense of 72%.

Barriault enters this fight with an MMA record of 17-9 with one NC and 6-8 with one NC in the UFC. He averages 6.02 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 47%. Barriault absorbs 5.57 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 52%. Regarding his wrestling, Barriault is averaging 0.21 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 25% and a takedown defense of 67%.

Barriault is known to be a tough fighter, but he lacks athleticism. Unlike Barriault, Magomedov is athletic, fast, and his strength lies in his striking. Barriault is a fighter who lives and dies by the sword, but he is there to be hit. Not sure Magomedov will be able to knock him out, but I do not doubt in my mind that Magomedov will outstrike Barriault. My prediction is that Magomedov will outpoint Barriault en route to a unanimous decision victory.

More DFS Analysis & Lineup Picks