VANCOUVER, CANADA — October 19, 2025 — American middleweight Brendan Allen delivered a statement victory at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, defeating Dutch contender Reinier de Ridder via technical knockout (TKO) when de Ridder’s corner stopped the fight before the fifth round. The result at Rogers Arena snapped de Ridder’s impressive four-fight UFC winning streak and marked Allen’s most significant win to date in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Allen Controls the Fight From Start to Finish
Allen (26-7 MMA) executed a flawless game plan, using his superior grappling to neutralize de Ridder’s dangerous striking arsenal. Throughout the fight, Allen imposed his wrestling dominance, landing heavy ground strikes that wore down the Dutch fighter.
By the end of Round 4, de Ridder (21-3 MMA) appeared visibly exhausted in his corner, prompting his team to call off the bout before Round 5 began. The stoppage gave Allen a TKO victory and extended his surge in the highly competitive UFC middleweight division.
“It feels good to do exactly what I said I would do,” Allen said after the fight. “I came off the couch three and a half weeks ago. I told everyone I’m a different monster — when my mind’s clear, I’m the best in the world.”
De Ridder’s Streak Ends, Allen Eyes Title Shot
The defeat marked de Ridder’s first loss in 19 months and ended his four-fight winning streak in the UFC. Known for his aggressive striking and submission game, de Ridder struggled to escape Allen’s relentless top control.
Allen, stepping in on short notice after Anthony Hernandez withdrew, used the opportunity to make his case for a shot at middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev (15-0 MMA).
“Come get it, baby,” Allen said, calling out Chimaev in his post-fight interview. “I’ve done enough to earn that title fight.”
Co-Main Event and Undercard Highlights
In the co-main event, Canadian welterweight Mike Malott (13-2-1 MMA) edged out Kevin Holland (28-15 MMA) in a tightly contested three-round fight. Despite an awkward moment early in the match when a leg kick compromised Holland’s protective cup, Malott remained composed and secured a unanimous decision victory with scores of 29-28 across the board.
Bantamweight veteran Aiemann Zahabi claimed a narrow split-decision win over Marlon “Chito” Vera (23-11-1 MMA) in a tactical striking battle (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
Meanwhile, in the women’s flyweight division, Manon Fiorot (13-2 MMA) made a stunning statement, earning a first-round TKO over Canadian favorite Jasmine Jasudavicius (14-4 MMA). Fiorot overwhelmed Jasudavicius with a barrage of punches just 1:14 into the opening round, reaffirming her status as a top contender in the division.
UFC Middleweight Division Heats Up
Allen’s dominant win over de Ridder has added fresh intrigue to the UFC middleweight title picture, already crowded with contenders like Dricus du Plessis, Sean Strickland, and Robert Whittaker. With his latest victory, Allen has solidified his reputation as one of the most complete fighters in the division — capable of both powerful wrestling and technical striking.
De Ridder, meanwhile, will need to regroup after suffering his first defeat since joining the UFC. Despite the setback, the Dutch fighter remains one of the most respected names in global MMA and is expected to bounce back stronger in future bouts.
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