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 KrylovRecords: Guskov (17-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Krylov (30-10 MMA, 11-8 UFC)Past five: Guskov 17-3, Krylov 3-2Division: Light heavyweightRankings: Krylov No. 10, Guskov honorable mentionOdds (as of 07.25.25): Guskov +160, Krylov -190Junkie pick results: Guskov 8, Krylov 3Asu Almabayev vs. Jose OchoaRecords: Almabayev (21-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC), Ochoa (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC)Past five: Almabayev 4-1, Ochoa 4-1Division: FlyweightRankings: Almabayev honorable mentionOdds (as of 07.25.25): Almabayev -105, Ochoa -115Junkie pick results: Almabayev 11, Ochoa 0Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Shara MagomedovRecords: Barriault (17-9 MMA, 6-8 UFC), Magomedov (15-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC)Past five: Barriault 2-3, Magomedov 4-1Division: MiddleweightRankings: NoneOdds (as of 07.25.25): Barriault +450, Magomedov -700Junkie pick results: Magomedov 10, Barriault 1Marcus McGhee vs. Petr YanRecords: McGhee (10-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC), Yan (18-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC)Past five: McGhee 5-0, Yan 2-3Division: BantamweightRankings: Yan No. 3, McGhee honorable mentionOdds (as of 07.25.25): McGhee +300, Yan -400Junkie pick results: Yan 11, McGhee 0Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de RidderRecords: Whittaker (26-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC), de Ridder (20-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC)Past five: Whittaker 3-2, de Ridder 4-1Division: MiddleweightRankings: Whittaker No. 6, de Ridder No. 12Odds (as of 07.25.25): Whittaker -150, de Ridder +125Junkie pick results: de Ridder 6, Whittaker 5Individual 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, GuskovFarah Hannoun 104-61: Whittaker, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, GuskovMike Bohn 104-61: Whittaker, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, KrylovAbbey Subhan 102-63: Whittaker, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, GuskovKen Hathaway 102-63: De Ridder, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, KrylovMatt Erickson 101-64: De Ridder, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, GuskovBrian Garcia 100-65: De Ridder, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, GuskovSimon Samano 97-68: De Ridder, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, GuskovDanny Segura 96-69: De Ridder, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, GuskovMatthew Wells 93-72: Whittaker, Yan, Magomedov, Almabayev, GuskovGeorge Garcia 90-75: De Ridder, Yan, Barriault, Almabayev, KrylovPreliminary 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 3Carlos Leal vs. Muslim Salikhov: Leal 7, Salikhov 4Da’Mon Blackshear vs. Davey Grant: Blackshear 10, Grant 1Amanda Ribas vs. Tabatha Ricci: Ribas 7, Ricci 4Ibo Aslan vs. Billy Elekana: Aslan 11, Elekana 0Steven Nguyen vs. Mohammad Yahya: Nguyen 7, Yahya 4Marcus Buchecha vs. Martin Buday: Buchecha 9, Buday 2