UFC Fight Night: Brendan Allen Predicts Early Finish Vs Reinier De Ridder, Eyes Title Shot in 2026

Last Updated:October 15, 2025, 14:42 IST

Brendan Allen steps up on short notice to face Reinier de Ridder at UFC Vancouver, confident his preparation, mindset, and “hard work” will carry him to a statement win.

Cutting nearly 30 pounds in a short span hasn’t rattled Brendan Allen. (Agencies)

Brendan Allen steps back into the spotlight this weekend, taking on Reinier de Ridder in the main event of UFC Fight Night at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena.

Originally, de Ridder was scheduled to face Anthony Hernandez, but Allen jumped at the opportunity when Hernandez withdrew, accepting the match against de Ridder on short notice with typical readiness: “Nothing really," Allen said, describing the moment he got the call. “It was just trying to figure out logistics for camp, get everyone on the same page, and have the best three or four weeks possible of training."

This is a crucial fight for Allen, who enters with a 25-7 professional record and sits at #9 in the middleweight rankings. At 29 years old, Allen has built his UFC resume with a strong mix of grappling and recent improvements in his striking game. His opponent, Reinier de Ridder, represents one of the most decorated crossover threats in the division – a former two-division ONE Champion now sporting a 21-2 record inside the Octagon.

The biggest challenge in accepting a fight at short notice is always the weight cut; but nearly 30 pounds in a short span hasn’t rattled Allen either. “Just good diet, good training, being smart," he said. “We got down to where we would normally come into fight week at… I’m very confident we’ll come back, recover just as we normally would. Everything’s on track," Allen told News18 Sports in a Exclusive interview ahead of the Vancouver fight.

Interestingly, both de Riddier and Allen trained at the Kill Cliff FC but never sparred, or crossed paths. In a recent interview, de Ridder went on to mention that Allen ‘never wanted to train’ with him and ‘wasn’t that welcoming.’

But Allen was quick to set the record straight when asked about his side of ths story. Despite their Kill Cliff FC connection, Allen emphasises there’s no shared camp history. “He’s not my teammate," Allen said. “We’re not friends or anything. I knew eventually one day we’d fight – and here we are."

As for the match, while Allen expects De Ridder to lean on his grappling, he believes he holds the advantage in all areas.

“I’m going to hit him. He’s not going to like it," he said. “He’s going to try to shoot, try to grab on me, weigh on me, and I’m going to keep hitting him, be smart, and play my game. I’ll finish him before the third, into the third round."

The American also added that he is comfortable facing southpaws and expects no surprises from de Ridder. “I’ve fought more southpaws than orthodox guys in the UFC, so it’s nothing new," he said. “We’re prepared for everything he brings to the table, and in a couple of days we’ll get to test that for real."

After conjuring up a stellar seven-match winning streak, two losses to top dog Nassourdine Imavov and Anthony Hernandez had set Allen back. But his victory Marvin Vettori at UFC 318 proved Allen is capable of handling setbacks.

“Everyone falls. But it’s how you pick yourself back up," Allen noted, giving away his mindset going into Vancouver.

A notable theme in Allen’s recent career is his increased focus on mental preparation. “I just had to focus on keeping the right people around me, being open with them and honest about how I feel, what I worry about, what I’m confident about… just trying to stay positive and don’t let the negativity creep in."

Ranked ninth in the division, Allen knows exactly what’s at stake in Vancouver. He expects to fight for the belt next year and then sign-off.

“I think next year I’ll be fighting for a belt – win over de Ridder, one more at the worst, and fight for the belt," he said. “Hopefully by the end of next year I’ll be champion – then defend it two, maybe three times, and audios into the sunset for me," added Allen.

With both fighters aiming for a statement win, UFC Vancouver’s main event is set to answer key questions about the future of the division – and whether Brendan Allen is ready to break through to the top.

Watch UFC Fight Night – de Ridder vs. Allen on 19th October 2025 from 4:30 AM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD (Tamil & Telugu).

Vineet Ramakrishnan

Vineet R, an accomplished sports journalist with over 13 years of experience in digital media, currently serves as the Associate Editor - Sports at CricketNext and News18 Sports. With a specialization in cricke...Read More

Vineet R, an accomplished sports journalist with over 13 years of experience in digital media, currently serves as the Associate Editor - Sports at CricketNext and News18 Sports. With a specialization in cricke...

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News sports UFC Fight Night: Brendan Allen Predicts Early Finish Vs Reinier De Ridder, Eyes Title Shot in 2026

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