OK, which may not be the No. 1 query on anybody’s thoughts with Reinier de Ridder taking over Brendan Allen in Saturday’s primary occasion and “RDR” probably in line for a middleweight title shot, however try what else goes in at UFC Vancouver.
The co-main occasion sees Ontario’s personal Mike Malott combating the at all times busy Kevin Holland, who simply so occurs to have a quantity subsequent to his identify within the UFC’s welterweight rankings.
One struggle previous to that, Quebec’s Aiemann Zahabi can lengthen a six-fight win streak if he will get previous one-time bantamweight title challenger Marlon Vera, at present No. 10 within the MMA Preventing International Rankings, 4 spots forward of Zahabi.
And Jasmine Jasudavicius, additionally out of Ontario, is already coming off of a career-best win over longtime two-division risk Jessica Andrade. If she beats latest flyweight title challenger Manon Fiorot, may Jasudavicius be in line for a championship alternative herself?
Add in the truth that Allen, stepping in on brief discover for an injured Anthony Hernandez, is repping his grandparents’ Alberta roots, and we’re speaking critical contender implications for The Nice White North.
For all my Canadian peoples on the market, there’s just one factor left to say: Give ‘er!
The place: Rogers Area in Vancouver, B.C., Canada
When: Saturday, Oct. 18. The seven-fight preliminary card begins at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN+, adopted by a six-fight primary card at 10 p.m. ET additionally on ESPN+.
(Numbers in parentheses point out standing within the MMA Preventing International Rankings and Pound-for-Pound Rankings)
Reinier de Ridder (6) vs. Brendan Allen (12)
This would possibly appear to be essentially the most ignorant query on this planet come Sunday morning, however I’ll ask it: Is there something Brendan Allen does higher than Reinier de Ridder?
Grappling? It’s “The Dutch Knight” all the best way, although Allen is aware of his approach round a submission or two, clearly. In all chance, Allen relishes the considered testing his jiu-jitsu in opposition to de Ridder and that most likely provides us essentially the most enjoyable model of this matchup. I’ve de Ridder within the ninetieth percentile of grapplers at present competing in MMA, so my nod right here says extra about his strengths than any weak spot on Allen’s half.
Placing? You’ve seen de Ridder get funky on the toes. It’s not at all times fairly, nevertheless it’s rattling efficient when he wants it to be and I’m not fearful about him getting caught by Allen until he does one thing dumb—and sure, that is middleweight, in order that’s totally doable.
Add in Allen taking this on brief discover and I don’t like his possibilities of pulling off the upset right here. However hey, I beforehand went on a prolonged run of choosing in opposition to Allen and he simply stored on successful, so perhaps that is for the perfect.
Kevin Holland vs. Mike Malott
I’m detest to level to behavioral intangibles when breaking down a struggle, however I admit, Kevin Holland’s struggle week demeanor has me involved.
The place is the jovial and jubilant Holland everyone knows and love? The place are the sound bites? The place is the, to coin a phrase, “Huge Mouth?”
Maybe this all means Holland is genuinely centered on spoiling Mike Malott’s home-country coronation. Holland had all of the makings of a spoiler as quickly as this bout was introduced and he’s crushed higher fighters than Malott. If the appropriate model of Holland reveals up, this could possibly be a foul night time for Canadian followers.
Malott isn’t a small welterweight, so Holland can’t simply overpower him. In reality, don’t be shocked if Malott goes to counter-wrestling to sluggish the unpredictable Holland. On the Holland facet, he’ll look to check Malott’s cardio. He at all times places loads of quantity on his opponents and Malott must be ready for flurries at any second.
It is a shut one on paper. I’ll go Malott for the explanations listed above, primarily that I’m not satisfied peak Holland made the journey throughout the border.
Marlon Vera (10) vs. Aiemann Zahabi (14)
It’s been over a 12 months since we’ve seen Marlon Vera in motion and it’s an odd to jot down that given the metronomic schedule he’s stored over the previous few years. “Chito” has fought at twice or thrice a 12 months since 2016 and until he manages to sneak onto a November or December card someway, that streak is quickly to come back to an finish. And what? That may be for the perfect.
Nobody who retains Vera’s schedule can anticipate to persistently be at their finest on struggle night time (simply ask Alex Pereira), so this day without work may serve to rejuvenate the quintessential firm man, who has misplaced three of his previous 4 fights. He’s not being given a straightforward bounce-back opponent in Aimeann Zahabi, with the Canadian having strung collectively six straight wins.
Zahabi is a tactician by way of and thru, with adaptation being one among his key strengths. I’m curious how the early sections of this struggle play out provided that neither fighter is understood for quick begins. Whoever loses may be kicking themselves for not pushing the tempo earlier.
This seems like a entice for Zahabi, who narrowly escaped being burned by the fading embers of Jose Aldo en path to a hard-earned—and contentious—resolution win. Vera has upset up to now, however together with his again to the wall and extra time spent within the lab, I like his possibilities of pulling off this upset.
Manon Fiorot (3, P4P-6) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (11, P4P-19)
Jasmine Jasudavicius is peaking on the proper time and her continued all-around progress ought to lead to one other win Saturday.
Let’s be clear right here, if Jasudavicius’s traditional bully ways don’t work in opposition to Manon Fiorot, she doesn’t have a lot of a path to victory. Fiorot isn’t the perfect striker within the flyweight division, however she’s at all times had energy and he or she put in aggressive rounds on the toes in opposition to Valentina Shevchenko. If this stays standing up, Fiorot wins in a stroll.
However Jasudavicius has locked in along with her wrestling throughout her spectacular streak and he or she is aware of who she is, which doesn’t sound like a lot, however many a contender has stumbled nicely earlier than the end line attempting to struggle outdoors of themselves. She’s going to shoot and shoot and shoot and shoot once more, most likely placing collectively the form of gnarly efficiency that might get her booed if she had been combating outdoors of Canada.
It’s additionally the form of efficiency that can earn her a call and a future title shot.
Cody Gibson vs. Aoriqileng
This struggle feels somewhat random, however I’m by no means going to complain about two extremely competent and skilled bantamweights being thrown within the cage collectively. Between them, Cody Gibson and Aoriqileng have a mixed 80 fights.
I anticipate this to play out with Aoriqileng specializing in controlling distance and putting, whereas Gibson works for angles to throw combos and grapple. Gibson can be smart to closely emphasize the wrestling as a result of Aoriqileng has at all times struggled with conserving fights standing, the place he’s most harmful. Even when Aoriqileng tags Gibson a number of instances, Gibson can at all times fall again on grabbing Aoriqileng and dragging him to the mat.
As robust as Aoriqileng is, I see Gibson carrying him down and finally securing a submission. That’s no small feat provided that nobody has made Aoriqileng faucet in his UFC profession.
Kyle Nelson vs. Matt Frevola
Look out, it’s Matt Frevola!
The New Yorker is a freight practice—or a “Steamrolla,” if you’ll—and he’s on the market to get or get acquired. He hasn’t gone to a call since 2021 and he gained’t in 2025 both. Positive, Kyle Nelson is aware of how you can muck up his opponents’ methods and drag them to selections, however again at light-weight and in entrance of a pleasant crowd, it’s bonus-hunting time.
I’m truthfully curious to see if Frevola fights a tad extra cautiously given he’s on a two-fight skid. It’s at all times good to maintain guys like him round, however the UFC strikes so quick today that three and out is simply the fact of the enterprise. If it had been as much as me, the Frevolas of the world would have contracts for so long as they’re prepared to signal on the dotted line.
With that in thoughts, I anticipate Frevola to throw warning to the wind as solely he can. And Nelson might be proper there to fulfill him head on, with simply as a lot to lose. I’m giving Nelson the slight edge due to his sturdiness, however it will simply come all the way down to who connects with an enormous shot first, so your guess is nearly as good as mine.
Charles Jourdain def. Davey Grant
Bruno Silva def. Hyun Sung Park
Danny Barlow def. Djorden Santos
Drew Dober def. Kyle Prepolec
Ravena Oliveira def. Stephanie Luciano
Azamat Bekoev def. Yousri Belgaroui
Melissa Croden def. Tainara Lisboa
