Corner stoppage gives Brendan Allen win over Reinier de Ridder in UFC Fight Night
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Brendan Allen (in red shorts) gaining the upper hand over Reinier de Ridder during UFC Fight Night at Rogers Arena on Oct 18 night.
PHOTO: REUTERS
VANCOUVER – Brendan Allen shook up the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight division in a big way by handing Reinier de Ridder his first promotional loss, by securing a TKO after de Ridder’s corner deemed him unable to continue ahead of round 5.
De Ridder was visibly exhausted in his neutral corner at UFC Fight Night 262 in Vancouver on Oct 18, leading to the sudden ending in the main event.
Allen avoided de Ridder’s devastating kickboxing ability by utilising his wrestling and controlling de Ridder with strikes from the top position. The 35-year-old Dutchman had few answers for Allen, who had stepped in on short notice after replacing fellow contender Anthony Hernandez.
Allen believes he has done enough to earn a title shot opposite UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.
The 29-year-old American, whose maternal grandparents are from Canada, fought under the Canadian flag at this event.
He said: “It was an honour to be here and represent you guys, but I’m still a Louisiana boy at heart and I put out for my state.
“It felt great to do exactly what I said I’d do. I’m a different monster. Chimaev, if you want a good grappler who’s young and hungry, come get it. If not, Dricus (du Plessis, No. 1 middleweight), where are you at?”
De Ridder had not lost since a One Championship defeat in March 2024.
Aiemann Zahabi and Mike Malott won their respective fights against Marlon Vera and Kevin Holland by split and unanimous decision, respectively.
Zahabi used his boxing prowess in round 3 to secure the win over the former bantamweight title challenger in Vera, while Malott dodged a bullet by avoiding a no-contest against Holland whose protective shorts cup was compromised from a Malott leg kick gone wrong early in the fight.
A Mallott arm-triangle choke attempt in round 3 was not enough either. Zahabi won 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 while Malott prevailed 29-28, 29-28, 29-28.
In women’s flyweight action, former title challenger Manon Fiorot delivered a devastating TKO over Canada’s Jasmine Jasudavicius, set up by a flurry of punches to secure the stoppage win at 1min 14sec of the opening round.
Canadian bantamweight fan favourite Charles Jourdain had a picture-perfect flying knee turn into an eventual first-round guillotine submission over Davey Grant at 3:05.
Jourdain has won back-to-back fights in identical fashion. Meanwhile, Grant is 4-2 in his last six fights, as he had a two-fight winning streak snapped.
The six-fight UFC Vancouver main card began with lightweight Kyle Nelson winning a unanimous 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 decision over Matt Frevola.
The fight was not without controversy, as referee Dan Miragliotta misread a stoppage that would have given Nelson a first-round TKO. Frevola has dropped three in a row. REUTERS
