UFC Upset: Allen Stops de Ridder, Corner Throws in Towel

UPDATE: In a stunning upset at UFC Fight Night in Vancouver on October 14, 2023, middleweight fighter Brendan Allen secured a monumental victory over Reinier de Ridder, forcing his opponent’s corner to throw in the towel between the fourth and fifth rounds. Allen’s emphatic win marks the biggest of his career, snapping de Ridder’s impressive four-fight winning streak.

Allen (26-7) stepped in on short notice after Anthony Hernandez withdrew due to injury. He confidently declared he would “break” de Ridder (21-3) and delivered on that promise by dominating the ground game. His performance saw him control the fight for over 11 minutes, landing a staggering 128 total strikes compared to de Ridder’s 51, according to UFC Stats.

The fight didn’t start in Allen’s favor; he faced a tough first round, surrendering a takedown and defending multiple submission attempts. However, he quickly found his rhythm, showcasing superior grappling skills as the rounds progressed. By the end of the fourth round, de Ridder was visibly exhausted, struggling to return to his corner. Referee Jason Herzog closely monitored the situation, leading to the decision by de Ridder’s team to end the fight.

“It feels good to do exactly what I said I would do,” Allen remarked 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 immediately called out current UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, as well as former champions Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland, with whom he has a previous loss in 2020. “Chimaev, if you want a good grappler, someone young and hungry, you got it, baby,” he challenged. “Dricus, where you at? I’ve been trying to get at you for a minute. If not, Sean, it’s time to run it back.”

In the co-main event, Canadian Mike Mallott (13-2-1) also made headlines with a decisive win over Kevin Holland (28-15) via decision, further elevating the stakes in the welterweight division. Meanwhile, Aiemann Zahabi (14-2) climbed the bantamweight ranks by narrowly defeating former title challenger Marlon Vera (23-11-1) in a split decision.

This thrilling event not only highlighted Allen’s capabilities as a formidable contender but also reshaped the landscape of the middleweight division. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how Allen’s bold challenges will unfold in the coming weeks.

Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates on this developing story and more from the world of UFC.