Brendan Allen UFC Win Shocks Reinier de Ridder in Vancouver

Brendan Allen upsets Reinier de Ridder with a fourth-round TKO in UFC Fight Night Vancouver, cementing his place in the middleweight rankings.

Brendan Allen Stuns Fans with Fourth-Round TKO

UFC middleweight Brendan Allen delivered the most significant win of his career on Saturday, defeating Reinier de Ridder in the fourth round at UFC Fight Night in Vancouver. Accepting the fight on short notice, Allen promised to challenge de Ridder—and he delivered.

Allen’s relentless ground game exhausted de Ridder, forcing his corner to throw in the towel between the fourth and fifth rounds. This victory ended de Ridder’s four-fight winning streak in the UFC, which had started last November.

Short Notice, Big Performance

Originally scheduled to fight Anthony Hernandez, de Ridder faced Allen after Hernandez withdrew due to injury. Allen (26-7) admitted he had only 3.5 weeks to prepare but used that time to sharpen his grappling and striking skills.

“It feels incredible to do exactly what I said I would,” Allen said post-fight. “I’m a different monster now—clear-headed, focused, and ready to take on anyone in the division.”

Dominance on the Ground

Allen struggled in the first round, giving up a takedown and defending submissions. However, he turned the tide from the second round onward, dominating grappling exchanges and controlling over 11 minutes on the mat. According to UFC Stats, Allen landed 128 total strikes compared to de Ridder’s 51, showcasing a clear performance advantage.

By the end of round four, de Ridder was barely able to stand, prompting referee Jason Herzog to check on him before his corner ultimately stopped the fight.

Future Challenges for Allen

After the victory, Allen called out several top middleweights, including champion Khamzat Chimaev and former champions Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland. Currently ranked No. 9 in the UFC middleweight division, Allen has made a strong case for moving up the rankings after defeating the No. 4-ranked de Ridder.

Co-Main Event and Other Highlights

In the co-main event, Canadian welterweight Mike Malott (13-2-1) earned a notable decision victory over Kevin Holland (28-15). Meanwhile, bantamweight contender Aiemann Zahabi (14-2) continued his ascent with a split decision win over former title challenger Marlon Vera (23-11-1).