VANCOUVER – Brendan Allen stands in the way of Reinier de Ridder’s audition for a UFC middleweight title shot. An impressive showcase at UFC Fight Night is paramount if De Ridder wants to improve his case for a fight with Khamzat Chimaev.
De Ridder (21-2) was originally scheduled to fight Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez on Saturday, part of a spiritual sweepstakes to find Chimaev’s next challenger. The other half of the equation is Nassourdine Imavov, who beat Caio Borralho last month. De Ridder is grateful that Allen stepped up on short notice, but knows a finish is crucial against an opponent less lauded than Hernandez.
“It still means something beating him,” De Ridder told CBS Sports of Allen. “He had close fights with Imavov and ‘Fluffy.’ At least he has history with top guys. I think if I’m the first guy, of the three, to finish him, that means something.”
There isn’t a rigid linear path to earning a title shot. Imavov (No. 2) will be ranked higher in the UFC’s official middleweight rankings even if De Ridder beats Allen. Imavov also has higher-ranked wins on his record. But De Ridder will have a couple of things going for him with another win: a 5-0 UFC run in 11 months, and a strength of schedule that makes him a reliable challenger in a pinch.
UFC Fight Night card, odds
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
| Favorite | Underdog | Weight class |
|---|---|---|
| Reinier de Ridder -198 | Brendan Allen +164 | Middleweight |
| Mike Malott -112 | Kevin Holland -108 | Welterweight |
| Aiemann Zahabi -130 | Marlon Vera +110 | Bantamweight |
| Manon Fiorot -230 | Jasmine Jasudavicius +190 | Women’s flyweight |
| Cody Gibson -180 | Aoriqileng +150 | Bantamweight |
| Matt Frevola -120 | Kyle Nelson +100 | Lightweight |
UFC Fight Night viewing information
- Date: Oct. 18
- Start time: 7 p.m. ET (main card)
- Location: Rogers Arena – Vancouver, Canada
- TV channel: ESPN+
Prediction Reinier de Ridder vs. Brendan Allen: Saturday’s headliners bear many similarities. They’re submission specialists who stay in your face with high striking output. Neither are elite strikers nor wrestlers, and both have defensive lapses. Their finishing rates are bizarrely identical: both men have five knockout wins, two knockout losses, while Allen (14) has one more submission win than De Ridder (13). Allen is theoretically at a disadvantage fighting five rounds on short notice, but he has main event experience and doesn’t struggle with cardio. This could be a very close fight, as reflected by the betting odds. De Ridder has a wider submission array, more consistency and time to prepare. He might not have the sturdiest chin, but Allen doesn’t crack that hard. I see De Ridder edging out a close fight.
De Ridder via Unanimous Decision
