New UFC Vancouver Headliner Switch Sees Reinier de Ridder Facing Replacement Fighter

Ever since Khamzat Chimaev stuck to it and snagged the UFC 185-pound crown, talks have really amped up as to who could defeat ‘Borz’. The UFC Fight Night 258 in Paris already presented a possible top contender and Reinier de Ridder was to have his next matchup to seek out another.

However, not all goes according to the script, and now one of the best possible matchups of this season is slumped. Reinier de Ridder was to face Anthony ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez in a pivotal middleweight matchup in the UFC Vancouver main event on October 18th. The possible next step to this title eliminator now has 11-ranked UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen pitching in to fight in that spot!

Allen recently returned to the path of victory at Chimaev’s UFC 319 PPV lineup, with a win over former title challenger Marvin Vettori on the judges’ cards. This victory ended his two-fight slump against top contenders Nassourdine Imavov and Hernandez, whom Allen is replacing. Imavov is already the possible top contender after UFC Paris and that gives a window of momentum as well, having lost to the possible next best.

Prior to the losses, Allen had the second-longest win streak in the division [6] in current middleweight competition, before back-to-back ‘Ls’. Meanwhile, new rival de Ridder is a former two-division ONE FC titleholder and has a perfect 4-0 start in his UFC run. The Dutch grappling ace won against big challenges to the gold like Robert Whittaker and Bo Nickal in this short time.

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He is thus often considered to be a proper stiff test to Khamzat Chimaev and his wrestling, at the moment. However, with a possible barnburner against Hernandez not happening, fans are not happy with the matter. Some users on X and other fan forums have clearly billed Allen as a downgrade.

13-ranked 185-pounder Paulo Costa recently returned to the win column as well. While a far less logical choice and with lesser stats, Costa has a prime rivalry with Chimaev and wants to get to it. Hence. he even worked up a crass challenge to face RDR. With Shara Magomedov saying no, Costa wrote on IG that before Allen, he got the call for a switch-up and requested a 3-round affair due to the short time. But RDR (allegedly) said no and he has taken a mickey that all are afraid of the return of his vintage self.

Whatever the case may be, de Ridder now has a new step to the middleweight top spot. And many still think he’s the best choice to get it done.

Former Borz rival tags Reinier de Ridder as having best chance of beating Khamzat Chimaev

In his dominant title win over 185-pounder and former champion Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 in August, Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) looked unstoppable. DDP could not overcome Chimaev’s grappling control and immense pressure to start with; he was taken down 12 times and controlled for over 21 minutes.

That has been the case for many when coupled up against the dominant and explosive Khamzat Chimaev. But current trajectory says there’s a possibility Reinier de Ridder could answer that well with servicable grappling, level changes, space management, and apt skills.

Following his loss to Chimaev in a fierce battle at UFC 273, which is easily worthy of some HOF wing, Gilbert Burns stated that elite and servicable jiu-jitsu, as well as answering Borz at all levels, are essential for competing with the undefeated prodigy.

I think from the whole division, I think [RDR] he’s the one that has more chance…to, to get it done…I was talking to Chimaev’s coach, jiu-jitsu coach, we fought before, and I asked, ‘Who do you think is the hardest fight?’ I said I think it’s RDR, and then he said me too. I have all of RDR’s videos… I trained with him a couple of times. He’s very good, very long, very big. I don’t know how he makes middleweight. He’s huge. Not easy, but I think he’s the one who can beat Chimaev. …To beat this kind of high-level wrestler, you need to have wrestling defense, and your jiu-jitsu has got to be good.

Gilbert Burns on the Buiten De Kooi – MMA Podcast (@buitendekooi)

Burns has shared the mat with RDR at Kill Cliff FC in Florida and considers the Dutchman to have the frame and skills to pose a problem to Chimaev. Recently, another fighter also pitched in that de Ridder has the best chance at foiling the new UFC middleweight champ. If he gets it done vs. Allen on October 18 at UFC Fight Night: de Ridder vs. Allen, he might just get closer to that opportunity.

ALSO READ: Champ Khamzat Chimaev Gives Immediate Reaction to 185-Pounder Nassourdine Imavov’s UFC Paris Win