Brendan Allen Upsets Reinier de Ridder as Corner Stops Fight

UPDATE: In a stunning turn of events at UFC Fight Night in Vancouver, Brendan Allen delivered a career-defining victory by stopping Reinier de Ridder in the fourth round on October 14, 2023. Taking the fight on short notice, Allen (26-7) forced de Ridder’s corner to throw in the towel, marking a significant upset against the No. 4-ranked middleweight.

The fight unfolded dramatically, with Allen initially struggling in the first round. He faced a takedown and fought off submissions, but quickly regained control. By the end of the bout, Allen had amassed over 11 minutes of control time and landed an impressive 128 total strikes compared to de Ridder’s 51, according to UFC Stats.

With de Ridder (21-3) visibly exhausted and unable to stand at the end of the fourth round, referee Jason Herzog closely monitored the situation. Ultimately, de Ridder’s team made the decision to stop the fight, ending his four-fight winning streak that began last November.

“It feels good to do exactly what I said I would do,” Allen expressed after the fight. “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.”

Following his victory, Allen wasted no time calling out UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, along with 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, signaling his ambition for a title shot.

In the co-main event, Canadian welterweight Mike Mallott (13-2-1) also made headlines with a decision victory over Kevin Holland (28-15), while Aiemann Zahabi (14-2) climbed the bantamweight ranks with a split decision win over former title challenger Marlon Vera (23-11-1).

As the UFC continues to heat up, all eyes will be on Allen as he positions himself for potential future matchups with some of the division’s top fighters. Fans are eagerly anticipating what will unfold next in the middleweight landscape.