Robert Whittaker’s return to the octagon after a gruesome injury last October ended in disappointment as he lost a split decision to Reinier De Ridder. Former UFC middleweight champion Whittaker had his teeth smashed in,

Australia’s Robert Whittaker has suffered a heartbreaking split decision loss against Reinier de Ridder in Abu Dhabi – and after being “seconds” away from finishing the UFC middleweight division’s breakout star.

Reinier de Ridder remained undefeated in the UFC with a hard-fought split decision victory over former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in a grueling five-round affair. While he did get absolutely bombed with a punch that knocked him to the ground in the third round,

This article was originally published on www.si.com/fannation/mma as UFC bogeyman flattened Robert Whittaker’s teeth with savage choke. Robert Whittaker returns from one of the most devastating losses of his career when he steps in the Octagon this weekend at UFC Abu Dhabi.

The former UFC middleweight champion's latest fight resulted in one of the gnarliest MMA injuries seen in recent memory.