Allen wins UFC Vancouver main event after De Ridder retires on stool

Brendan Allen inserted himself into the middleweight title picture with an upset win over Reinier de Ridder.

Allen used his grappling to overwhelm De Ridder en route to a TKO victory in the UFC Vancouver main event Saturday night at Rogers Arena. De Ridder was visibly exhausted at the end of the fourth round and retired in his corner. Announcer Joe Martinez said De Ridder couldn't continue.

"It felt great to do exactly what I said I would do," Allen said in his postfight interview. "I'm a different monster."

Allen handed De Ridder, a former ONE Championship two-division titleholder, his first loss in the UFC. De Ridder had been a breakthrough star over the last year, recording four wins - including a decision over former champ Robert Whittaker - since debuting last November. Many believed De Ridder would receive a title shot against champion Khamzat Chimaev had he won Saturday.

But instead, Allen made the most of a short-notice opportunity and halted De Ridder's momentum. Allen is once again a contender in the 185-pound division after earning his second straight win and further removing himself from a recent two-fight skid that made fans question his place in the division. After this latest victory, Allen could very well crack into the top five, as he was ranked No. 9 and De Ridder No. 4 heading into Saturday's main event.

Allen agreed to face De Ridder just over a month ago, replacing Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez.

"This was three-and-a-half weeks of training," Allen said. "I did this off the couch. ... When my head's clear and we're on, I'm the best in the world."

Allen said he hopes to fight Chimaev for the title next but is also open to matchups against former champions Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland.

"Chimaev, you want a good grappler? You want someone who's young and hungry? Come get it, baby," Allen said. "If not, Dricus, where you at? I've been trying to get you for a minute. And if not, Sean, it's time to run it back, baby."

De Ridder had a strong start in the fight, controlling Allen on the ground for most of the first round. He attempted an arm-triangle choke, got into full mount multiple times, and softened Allen up with strikes.

De Ridder got on top of Allen again early in the second round, but this time, Allen reversed the position and then spent the rest of the frame on top. The same thing happened in the third. De Ridder secured a takedown, took Allen's back, and attempted a rear-naked choke. But Allen defended it, reversed the position again, and punished De Ridder with ground-and-pound, including heavy elbows.

In the fourth round, Allen immediately landed a high-amplitude takedown, clearly recognizing a path to victory. He continued to smother De Ridder, officially recording 4:56 of control time in that stanza alone. At the end of the round, De Ridder slowly got up and walked to his corner, but he didn't answer the bell for the fifth.