The UFC is back in Abu Dhabi with a former middleweight champion taking on a rising new contender.
UFC on ABC 9 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Get pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.
Bogdan Guskov vs. Nikita Krylov
- Records: Guskov (17-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Krylov (30-10 MMA, 11-8 UFC)
- Past five: Guskov 17-3, Krylov 3-2
- Division: Light heavyweight
- Rankings: Krylov No. 10, Guskov honorable mention
- Odds (as of 07.25.25): Guskov +160, Krylov -190
- Junkie pick results: Guskov 8, Krylov 3
Asu Almabayev vs. Jose Ochoa
- Records: Almabayev (21-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC), Ochoa (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
- Past five: Almabayev 4-1, Ochoa 4-1
- Division: Flyweight
- Rankings: Almabayev honorable mention
- Odds (as of 07.25.25): Almabayev -105, Ochoa -115
- Junkie pick results: Almabayev 11, Ochoa 0
Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Shara Magomedov
- Records: Barriault (17-9 MMA, 6-8 UFC), Magomedov (15-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC)
- Past five: Barriault 2-3, Magomedov 4-1
- Division: Middleweight
- Rankings: None
- Odds (as of 07.25.25): Barriault +450, Magomedov -700
- Junkie pick results: Magomedov 10, Barriault 1
Marcus McGhee vs. Petr Yan
- Records: McGhee (10-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC), Yan (18-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC)
- Past five: McGhee 5-0, Yan 2-3
- Division: Bantamweight
- Rankings: Yan No. 3, McGhee honorable mention
- Odds (as of 07.25.25): McGhee +300, Yan -400
- Junkie pick results: Yan 11, McGhee 0
Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder
- Records: Whittaker (26-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC), de Ridder (20-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC)
- Past five: Whittaker 3-2, de Ridder 4-1
- Division: Middleweight
- Rankings: Whittaker No. 6, de Ridder No. 12
- Odds (as of 07.25.25): Whittaker -150, de Ridder +125
- Junkie pick results: de Ridder 6, Whittaker 5
Individual staff member picks, main card
Readers 100–65: De Ridder (56%), Yan (76%), Magomedov (86%), Almabayev (70%), Krylov (52%)
- Nolan King 104-61: Whittaker, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, Guskov
- Farah Hannoun 104-61: Whittaker, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, Guskov
- Mike Bohn 104-61: Whittaker, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, Krylov
- Abbey Subhan 102-63: Whittaker, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, Guskov
- Ken Hathaway 102-63: De Ridder, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, Krylov
- Matt Erickson 101-64: De Ridder, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, Guskov
- Brian Garcia 100-65: De Ridder, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, Guskov
- Simon Samano 97-68: De Ridder, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, Guskov
- Danny Segura 96-69: De Ridder, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, Guskov
- Matthew Wells 93-72: Whittaker, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, Guskov
- George Garcia 90-75: De Ridder, Yan, Barriault, Almabayev, Krylov
Preliminary card picks
Although they don’t count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:
- Bryce Mitchell vs. Said Nurmagomedov: Nurmagomedov 8, Mitchell 3
- Carlos Leal vs. Muslim Salikhov: Leal 7, Salikhov 4
- Da’Mon Blackshear vs. Davey Grant: Blackshear 10, Grant 1
- Amanda Ribas vs. Tabatha Ricci: Ribas 7, Ricci 4
- Ibo Aslan vs. Billy Elekana: Aslan 11, Elekana 0
- Steven Nguyen vs. Mohammad Yahya: Nguyen 7, Yahya 4
- Marcus Buchecha vs. Martin Buday: Buchecha 9, Buday 2
