Using one of many hottest streaks within the UFC, Reinier de Ridder (21-2) is again in motion for the fourth time this 12 months at UFC Struggle Evening in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Saturday (7 p.m. ET on ESPN+, prelims at 4 p.m.). His opponent, Brendan Allen (25-7), is stepping in on brief discover after Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez withdrew due to harm final month.
De Ridder, ESPN’s sixth-ranked middleweight, is undefeated in his four-fight UFC tenure and Allen, No. 10 by ESPN, can also be coming off a win. He received a unanimous resolution over veteran Marvin Vettori in July.
ESPN MMA analysts Din Thomas and Anthony Smith present their foremost occasion predictions, and ESPN betting skilled Ian Parker provides perception on the worth bets obtainable on the battle card.
Middleweight foremost occasion
To ensure that Allen to win fights, he has to have the ability to take his opponent down. He is sometimes the higher grappler in each battle he wins. Right here, I feel De Ridder might be the higher grappler. De Ridder ought to have the ability to reverse any place Allen places him in and find yourself on high. I am saying De Ridder by resolution, nevertheless it would not shock me if De Ridder bought the submission. — Din Thomas
Allen is a greater striker than De Ridder, and I feel he is the higher wrestler. I do not suppose De Ridder will have the ability to take him down, so the grappling must be managed extra by Allen. If I find yourself being unsuitable on this, I feel it is going to be as a result of Allen generally fades beneath a excessive tempo. When he is pushed actually exhausting, we have seen him fall behind within the later rounds, however I feel he has the instruments to win this matchup. — Anthony Smith
Betting evaluation
Odds correct as of Oct. 16. For essentially the most up-to-date odds, go to ESPN BET.
Parker: De Ridder to win (-210). If Allen is ready to pull off the upset, he can put himself within the middleweight title image in 2026. Nonetheless, I consider a five-round battle favors De Ridder over Allen. De Ridder went 5 rounds with Robert Whittaker in July and was in a position to dictate the tempo within the closing spherical to get the win. Until Allen catches De Ridder in Spherical 1, his gasoline tank will possible run out because the battle goes on, giving De Ridder the chance to take the win.
Parker’s finest bets on the remainder of the cardboard
Welterweight: Kevin Holland vs. Mike Malott
Over 1.5 rounds: This must be an extremely shut battle between two well-rounded fighters. Coming off a knockout loss to Daniel Rodriguez in July, I anticipate fan-favorite Holland to be extra defense-minded and fewer reckless offensively to keep away from getting tagged by Malott, who’s on a two-fight successful streak. Malott has additionally been utilizing his wrestling and floor recreation extra not too long ago, which can come in useful right here. I feel Malott may have success with takedowns and hold Holland on his again for almost all of the battle. If end occurs, I see it coming late within the battle, so take over 1.5 rounds.
Males’s bantamweight: Aiemann Zahabi vs Marlon Vera
Zahabi to win (-135): Coming off his win over José Aldo in Montreal in Might, Zahabi will likely be wanting so as to add one other seasoned veteran and former title challenger to his résumé. Each Zahabi and Vera are extraordinarily sturdy, however the distinction of their battle will likely be Zahabi’s output and Vera’s tendency to start out sluggish. Zahabi additionally has the power to take down Vera and hold him there, if he is not having success on the toes. On high of all of that, Vera has taken plenty of injury in his 15-year skilled profession. Greater than possible this battle goes the space and Zahabi wins by resolution.
Girls’s flyweight: Manon Fiorot vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
Manon to win by resolution: In her first battle since dropping her title battle to Valentina Shevchenko in Might, Fiorot will likely be taking up the surging Jasdavicius in Fiorot’s dwelling nation of Canada. This must be an attention-grabbing battle between two proficient fighters. Fiorot is a 2-to-1 favourite, and I feel it is sensible. On the toes, she is the higher striker, and until Jasdavicius can get Fiorot to the bottom, I anticipate Fiorot to win a three-round kickboxing battle by resolution.