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

Reinier de Ridder edged out Robert Whittaker by split decision in UFC Abu Dhabi main event, but voiced frustration over a judge’s scorecard.

Reinier de Ridder picked up the biggest win of his career on Saturday when he took a hard-fought split decision over former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the main event of UFC Fight Night from Abu Dhabi.

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 and Reinier de Ridder compete in a pivotal middleweight clash weeks before Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev fight for the middleweight title. In the aftermath of UFC 318, the mixed martial arts promotion heads to Abu Dhabi.