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.

The UFC Fight Night event will be held in Abu Dhabi, featuring a headline middleweight clash between Robert Whittaker and Reinier De Ridder.

SportsLine's Daniel Vithlani reveals his picks for the UFC Fight Night fight card from Etihad Arena at Yas Island in Yas West United Arab Emirates on Saturday

First, the PFL Champions Series Africa in Cape Town, South Africa, saw a shocking conclusion to its main event middleweight title fight. Johnny Eblen, the incoming champion, was up on the scorecards heading into the fifth round. However, Costello Van Steenis pulled off a last-second rear-naked choke to snatch the title away.

Find out where to stream Whittaker vs. De Ridder live in the US. We tell you how to watch it for free, what time it starts, and how to follow the UFC Fight Night event on ESPN or Disney Plus.

NASHVILLE – Fighters from Saturday's UFC on ESPN 70 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $204,500. The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

Vagner Rocha won just six months after having heart failure, and both Adele Fornarino and Roberto Jimenez put on a show. Check out results and analysis from WNO 29.

Amanda Ribas returns to the octagon Saturday at UFC Abu Dhabi to face fellow Brazilian strawweight Tabatha Ricci.