The UFC will return to Canada this fall with a stacked card. Headlined by a pivotal middleweight clash between Reinier de Ridder and Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez. UFC Vancouver takes place Oct. 18 at the Rogers Center, with UFC CEO Dana White confirming the event’s main and co-main bouts on Tuesday.
De Ridder Stays Active in Pursuit of Gold
Fresh off a dominant victory over former champion Robert Whittaker in July, de Ridder is refusing to sit idle while waiting for a title shot. The former two division ONE Championship king has made a seamless transition into the UFC, compiling a perfect 4-0 record with wins over Whittaker, Bo Nickal, and Kevin Holland. Just a day ago, he was publicly campaigning for a crack at new middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, but instead he’ll stay busy with his second consecutive main event.
Hernandez Riding Momentum
Standing across from him will be Hernandez, one of the division’s fastest rising contenders. Hernandez extended his win streak to eight with an emphatic victory over Roman Dolidze earlier this year, adding to impressive recent wins over Brendan Allen and Michel Pereira. Known for his relentless pressure and grappling-heavy style, Hernandez will look to derail de Ridder’s march toward the title.
Holland vs. Malott Adds Star Power
In the co-main event, fan favorite Kevin Holland will face Canadian welterweight Mike Malott. Holland, who has already fought four times in 2025, is seeking to rebound from a decision loss to Daniel Rodriguez at UFC 318. Malott, meanwhile, has rallied with back-to-back wins since his first UFC defeat to Neil Magny in 2024, and he’ll have the home crowd firmly behind him in Vancouver.
Other Confirmed Fights
Two additional bouts were made official for the card:
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Marlon “Chito” Vera vs. Aiemann Zahabi (Bantamweight)
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Manon Fiorot vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (Flyweight)
What’s Next
While the full lineup and bout order have yet to be finalized. UFC Vancouver is already shaping up as a major event for Canadian fans. With a middleweight title shot potentially hanging in the balance, de Ridder vs. Hernandez promises high stakes in the main event, while Holland vs. Malott and the supporting matchups bring extra excitement to the card.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
