In Vancouver, British Columbia, UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is currently seen as a dominant force. However, Reinier de Ridder believes he possesses unique strategies to challenge Chimaev. Preparing for UFC Fight Night in Vancouver, de Ridder knows a victory over Brendan Allen this Saturday is vital to his title aspirations. Having trained under Chimaev and being a former two-division ONE Championship titleholder, de Ridder is confident that his combination of submission skills and striking could pose serious problems for the reigning champion.
De Ridder shared with CBS Sports that he might be able to take Chimaev down and maintain a dominant position, something not yet witnessed in Chimaev’s fights. He also hinted at dangerous submission moves from both his back and top positions, suggesting he’s prepared with some unexpected tactics. Meanwhile, de Ridder is trying to close the competitive gap with Nasouddin Imavov, who recently knocked out former champion Israel Adesanya. Originally set to face Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez, who is known for matching Chimaev’s intensity, de Ridder now faces Brendan Allen due to Hernandez’s removal from the card. Allen has recently lost decisions to both Hernandez and Imavov, making this a challenging but crucial bout for de Ridder.
De Ridder acknowledges that beating Allen might not immediately secure a title shot but feels the victory will still carry significant weight, especially if he can be the first to finish Allen, who has history with top contenders like Imavov and Hernandez. With Imavov considered the leading contender, de Ridder remains in the mix, poised for a possible breakthrough. The UFC’s active event schedule demands ready challengers, and de Ridder continues to impress, competing for the fifth time in 11 months. A win this weekend would mark him as one of the few fighters to achieve four UFC victories in a single year.
Fan Take: Fighting fans should pay close attention to de Ridder’s upcoming match, as it could reshape the middleweight title landscape. His unique skill set and relentless activity are precisely what the sport needs to keep delivering unpredictable and exciting matchups.
