Brendan Allen made a huge statement after putting on a punishing performance to break Reinier de Ridder and win the UFC Vancouver main event.
Despite taking the fight less than four weeks ago, Allen looked more than ready for the challenge and after surviving an early onslaught from de Ridder in the opening round, he started his savage campaign to wear out the former ONE champion. As time passed, Allen just kept hammering away and de Ridder was so exhausted that he was barely able to stand after the fourth round.
Slumped over in the corner, de Ridder looked defeated and his coaches along with the referee made the call when it clear he could no longer continue. The official stoppage came at 5:00 in the fourth round as Allen gets the TKO victory in the main event.
“It felt great to do exactly what I said I would do,” Allen said following the win. “My team, being with guys that put 10 0percent effort into me. Being a true brotherhood with one another. This was three and a half weeks of training. I did this off the couch. I told you, I’m a different monster. When my head’s clear and we’re on, I’m the best in the world.
“I felt him in the first. It took me a second to get going. I could feel him straining. I knew once I got on top and I felt that, game over.”
It took no time for de Ridder to close the distance and look for the takedown and Allen defended well momentarily but a split second later he found himself getting tossed to the canvas. From there, de Ridder immediately moved into the mount as he began smothering Allen on top, looking to set up a potential submission.
Initially trying for an arm triangle, de Ridder transitioned to take the back where he locked on the body triangle as he began raining down punches before looking for the rear-naked choke. Allen continued to defend the submissions but he was also starting to eat a lot of punches with de Ridder on his back.
Time ran out in the round but de Ridder went right back to his grappling on the restart as he dragged Allen back to the canvas. As he attempted to advance his position, de Ridder slipped and Allen was able to land on top where he began peppering away with inside punches and elbows.
That’s where the tide really started to turn.
After a tough second round, de Ridder quickly grabbed the body lock and pulled Allen back to the ground. It was short lived success, however, with Allen reversing positions again as he took top control on de Ridder and began dishing out punishment again.
With de Ridder stuck on his back, he looked like he was running on fumes, although he did throw up a late reverse triangle choke. It truly was a last ditch effort because when the round ended, de Ridder struggled to get back to his feet as exhaustion really set in.
As the fight moved into the fourth round, de Ridder was breathing hard and Allen took full advantage by taking him to the canvas this time. Allen was blasting away against little resistance and it appeared that de Ridder was just holding on for survival.
Allen was methodical while chipping away at de Ridder, making him suffer and continuously hitting him before eventually moving into side control. Just before time expired, Allen popped him with another shot with de Ridder once again barely able to get back to his feet after the horn.
As he sat down in the corner, de Ridder looked defeated and his coaches obviously agreed as the fight was stopped just moments later. An elated Allen started to celebrate as he earned the finish and arguably one of the biggest wins of his UFC career, especially after de Ridder had built so much momentum through his first four wins in the octagon.
Now on a two-fight win streak of his own, Allen is looking to take a step back up the rankings with hopes that title contention isn’t too far away now that he’s taken out de Ridder.
“[Khamzat] Chimaev, you want a good grappler, you want someone that’s young and hungry, come get it baby,” Allen shouted. “If not, Dricus [du Plessis] where you at? I’ve been trying to get you for a minute. If not, Sean [Strickland], it’s time to run it back.”
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