UPDATE: UFC middleweight Brendan Allen achieved a stunning upset on October 14, 2023, stopping Reinier de Ridder in the fourth round at UFC Fight Night in Vancouver. This victory marked the biggest win of Allen’s career, showcasing his resilience and determination after accepting the fight on short notice.
Allen, now with a record of 26-7, faced de Ridder, who held a 21-3 record, amid high stakes. Allen confidently declared that he would “break” de Ridder, and he delivered, forcing de Ridder’s corner to throw in the towel just before the fifth round. This result ended de Ridder’s impressive four-fight winning streak in the UFC, which had begun last November.
The bout took a dramatic turn after a challenging first round for Allen, who initially struggled against de Ridder’s grappling. However, he quickly turned the tide, controlling the fight with over 11 minutes of control time and landing a staggering 128 total strikes compared to de Ridder’s 51, according to UFC Stats.
The end of the fourth round saw de Ridder visibly exhausted, struggling to return to his corner. Referee Jason Herzog closely monitored the situation, and ultimately, de Ridder’s team made the difficult decision to stop the fight.
In an emotional post-fight interview, Allen expressed his satisfaction: “It feels good to do exactly what I said I would do,” he stated. “This was me 3.5 weeks off the couch. I told you I’m a different monster; when my head is clear and we’re on, I’m the best in the world.”
Immediately after securing his victory, Allen called out top contenders including UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, and former champions Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland. “Chimaev, if you want a good grappler, someone young and hungry, you got it baby,” he said. Allen, who entered the main event as the UFC’s No. 9-ranked middleweight, is now poised for a potential title shot.
The co-main event also featured a notable victory as Canadian welterweight Mike Mallott (13-2-1) defeated Kevin Holland (28-15) by decision. Additionally, bantamweight Aiemann Zahabi (14-2) secured a split-decision win over former title challenger Marlon Vera (23-11-1), further shaking up the rankings.
Fans and analysts alike are buzzing about Allen’s impressive performance, marking a significant shift in the middleweight division. As the dust settles from this thrilling event, all eyes will be on future matchups involving Allen and the potential challenges ahead.
Stay tuned for more updates as these developments unfold in the MMA world.
