In a rare non-pay-per-view event, there’s a pretty big fight night happening in Abu Dhabi, headlined by the return of Robert Whittaker against the Dutchman Reinier de Ridder. With Petr Yan heading up the co-main event and Shara Bullet fighting in the swing spot, Uncrowned’s Chuck Mindenhall and Petesy Carroll had some burning questions about this weekend’s fights.
Let’s get right to them!
Petesy: I’m not ruling out a “Bobby Knuckles” prestige performance this weekend. If that happens, due to the recency bias that engulfs everyone within combat sports media, I think I’ll definitely be behind Whittaker’s last march toward the title. He also sold me on the revenge theme regarding the UFC’s current middleweight champ, Dricus du Plessis. Whittaker didn’t seem to have the same bluster when it came to Khamzat Chimaev — and after how their meeting went back in October, I can’t really blame him.
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Chuck: So many times MMA becomes a game of “what could’ve been,” and it’s that was for Whittaker too. For instance, what happens if he survives that first round against Khamzat Chimaev? Is he packing his tour guide to Chicago right now for that rematch with Dricus, while Chimaev is left fighting in the familiar confines of Abu Dhabi? I still think if he gets by that first round, the momentum favors “Knuckles.”
As far as a twilight title shot, I think he has one last run in him, but this fight with “RDR” will tell us everything.
2. Is Reinier de Ridder a true contender at 185 pounds?
Chuck: The inclination has been to see that Bo Nickal fight as nothing more than a fraud check for a guy who’s come into the UFC with a lot of ballyhoo. I tend to look at it the other way. It was Nickal running into an experienced, unsung contender who was only too happy to serve up a dose of humility.
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“RDR” has looked very good at 185 pounds, but in my mind, Whittaker is the litmus test here. Should the former ONE Championship standout get through an ex-champ who is not yet through the exit door of his prime? Then yeah, I think he’s a true contender.
Petesy: Agree, I don’t think “RDR” got half the praise he deserved after the Bo Nickal fight. Instead of lauding him for a brilliant performance, the vast majority of the MMA community seemed to focus on what Nickel didn’t do. He’s flown under the radar since moving over from ONE Championship.
If you asked me this question after his first outing against Gerald Meerschaert, I would’ve said definitely not, but the wins over Holland and Nickal have me on the Dutch Kool-Aid. (It’s marijuana infused.) Whittaker does feel like the final stepping stone before he introduces himself to title contention.
Petr Yan and Marcus McGhee face off during the UFC Abu Dhabi ceremonial weigh-in at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
(Chris Unger via Getty Images)
3. We were super high on Petr Yan just two years ago. Should we be buying Yan stock again as he tries to make it three straight against Marcus McGhee?
Petesy: What do you mean “were”? I’m still a Petr Yan mark and have been devastated all week because my attempts to speak to him in the lead-up were not even replied to. I thought we were boys, damnit! At one stage we even talked about me going out to Siberia to film him in the build to his first meeting with Aljamain Sterling. Oh, what a time it would have been. Me, out there in the snow, teaching my Russian brothers how to split the G as they show me how to wrestle bears. They were simpler times…
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Oh sorry, I forgot we were doing something here. I never sold my stock, Chuck. It remains in my portfolio, and after this win against — *checks notes* — Marcus McGhee, I’m going to be a billionaire.
Chuck: What you’re describing is “Rocky IV” meets “The Commitments,” and I’m here for it! Sorry you didn’t get to go to Siberia, Petesy, but I am proud of you for not jumping off the “No Mercy” bandwagon.
I have to say, my own faith was shaken. After the way he lost his title in 2021 and people were skewering Sterling, I thought Yan would go in there and wreck him in that 2022 rematch. When that didn’t happen, I got worried. The Sean O’Malley loss came with an obvious wink, but the Merab Dvalishvili loss in 2023 made me wonder if Yan might be broken. Turns out his hand was.
Anyway, his last two fights have refilled my optimism. Especially that last one against Deiveson Figueiredo. That was pure dominance.
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4. Oh yeah, who is Marcus McGhee?
Chuck: Marcus McGhee. You know, Marcus, “The Maniac”! Listen, he hasn’t gotten a lot of shine (thus far), but he does have three finishes and has looked pretty good. If he plays Yan like an accordion, we’ll know who he is, alright. But man, what a thankless ask of Yan. He’s ranked way higher than McGhee and will get nearly no juice from beating him.
Petesy: Apparently, “who’s Marcus McGhee” is exactly what Petr Yan said when his manager called him about this fight.
In all seriousness, I definitely feel like this is a Poirier vs. Saint Denis situation. However, unlike Poirier, Yan is a considerable favorite going in. McGhee has looked great going 4-0 in the buildup, but this is a massive step up in class for him. It’s a huge opportunity, but I just don’t think he’s dynamic enough to get the nod over Yan.
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PS: I famously picked “BSD” in the Poirier fight. I’ll never forgive myself.
Shara Magomedov and Marc-Andre Barriault face off ahead of their UFC Abu Dhabi showdown.
(Chris Unger via Getty Images)
5. Shara Bullet is back, baby. What are the reasonable expectations we should have for him and his career?
Petesy: I think we should put him in the Kevin Holland category of a guy who generally delivers fan-friendly fights even though his results are inconsistent. I knew that the Michael “Venom” Page fight was a terrible matchup for him — Shara came up through an influencer kickboxing league, whereas “MVP” was literally among the best kickboxers in the world before he moved to MMA.
I do really enjoy Shara, though. He’s the striking version of Khamzat Chimaev with a much lower ceiling. That’s sounds quite insulting, but I didn’t intend for it to be.
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Chuck: I still find it funny that there’s one (1) Dagestani out there who doesn’t wrestle, but Shara Bullet is a natural entertainer as you mentioned. I think it would mortify him if he heard boos during a fight. It’s telling that the de facto “commission” turns a blind eye to the fact that … well, he’s blind in one eye. If the UFC is really trying to stop pirating, they have a hell of a way of showing it.
You’re right, though. Nobody should be playing “Where’s Waldo?” with Sharabutdin Magomedov in the title picture, because he’s the one taking the picture. I do think he’s capable of winning some fights, though, including this one against Marc-Andre Barriault. And you know what? That’s good enough for me.
6. Bryce Mitchell in the Middle East, what could go wrong?
Chuck: This could be a good learning experience for Mitchell. They should bring him home the other way, across Asia and over the Pacific, just so he’s forced to understand that it’s a sphere he’s navigating. If the Earth were truly flat, as he likes to believe through those lonely hours in the deer stand, he would just end up 5,000 more miles away if he went the opposite way, right?
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Right?
Petesy: It’s a good point. And he’s apparently already offended a group of men in a gym by getting his meat and two veg out. I’ve also watched him reply to a Russian journalist with an Arabic greeting, albeit with the best of intentions. He’s also said he really loves how clean the place is and the customer service, but the main reasons why he loves America is because of his Bible. I wonder if anyone told him he could’ve brought that with him.
The UFC really should’ve sent a documentary crew around with him at all times.
