Robert Whittaker took some positives from his most recent loss. | Getty/UFC Robert Whittaker is taking his loss to Reinier de Ridder as a learning experience. The former middleweight champion dropped a split decision to de Ridder in the UFC Abu Dhabi headliner at Etihad Arena in Yas Island,

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

Din Thomas thinks Robert Whittaker is one loss from facing unranked opponents after falling short at UFC Abu Dhabi.

Reinier de Ridder secured a split decision victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC on ABC 9 in Abu Dhabi. Despite two judges favoring de Ridder 48-47, one judge scored the fight in Whittaker's favor with the same score.

The former middleweight champion suffered a loss this past Saturday in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi, dropping a close split decision to Reinier de Ridder. Whittaker battled de Ridder for 25 minutes, scoring a dramatic knockdown in the third, but a pair of 48-47 scores for de Ridder earned “The Dutch Knight” the victory.

Robert Whittaker is on his first losing skid in more than 11 years after UFC Abu Dhabi, raising questions about his future.

Robert Whittaker’s teeth were brutally shattered in his last UFC fight. And with ‘The Reaper’ set to return to the same venue as his crushing defeat to Khamzat Chimaev last time