Brendan Allen dashed Reinier de Ridder’s immediate ambitions to claim the UFC middleweight title during their fight in Vancouver on Saturday. De Ridder, who needed a standout performance to earn a title shot against Khamzat Chimaev, was upset by Allen, who stepped in on short notice. Both fighters demonstrated strong grappling skills and face strikes, but Allen was more effective in causing damage from dominant positions. While de Ridder aimed to control and seek submissions when on top, Allen delivered significant blows when he held the upper hand. Fatigue played a key role as well; de Ridder, prepared for a high-paced fight, tired quicker than Allen, who had only four weeks to prepare. After the third round, de Ridder was noticeably exhausted, and after the fourth, he indicated he couldn’t continue, leading the referee to stop the fight, awarding Allen a TKO victory. Post-fight, Allen called out former middleweight champion Doricus du Plessis.
Despite Hernandez defeating Allen earlier this year, a win over the No. 4 ranked de Ridder could propel Allen from No. 9 past Hernandez in the UFC middleweight rankings. This victory also opens the door for No. 2 ranked Imavov to challenge Chimaev for the title. Imavov, who won his last five fights including a recent victory over Caio Boralho, is now the favorite to claim the middleweight crown with de Ridder out of contention.
Allen, with a record of 26-7, is coming off consecutive wins against de Ridder and Marvin Vettori. De Ridder, who held two division titles in ONE Championship and was undefeated since signing with the UFC in November, suffered his first UFC loss.
Fan Take: This upset shakes up the middleweight division and highlights how unpredictable UFC matchups can be, especially with short-notice fighters like Allen proving their worth. It energizes fans by opening new rivalries and changing the championship landscape, keeping the sport dynamic and exciting.
