UFC Fight Night 262 has a new headliner. With Anthony Hernandez withdrawing from the Oct. 18 main event in Vancouver for undisclosed reasons, the UFC has tapped Brendan Allen to step in against Reinier de Ridder in a five-round middleweight clash at Rogers Arena, live on ESPN+.
De Ridder’s Rapid Rise
De Ridder (21-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) continues to surge as one of the UFC’s fastest-rising middleweights. After stopping his first three UFC opponents, he outlasted former champion Robert Whittaker in a hard-fought split decision at his last outing, extending his winning streak to five. A victory in Vancouver would strengthen his case as the division’s next title challenger.
Allen’s Short-Notice Opportunity
Allen (25-7 MMA, 13-4 UFC) gets a golden opportunity to re-enter the contender mix. The 28-year-old recently snapped a two-fight skid by beating Marvin Vettori at UFC 318, rebounding from losses to Hernandez and Nassourdine Imavov. Stepping in on short notice, Allen has the chance to disrupt de Ridder’s rise and reclaim momentum in the crowded 185-pound division.
Updated UFC Fight Night 262 Lineup
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Reinier de Ridder vs. Brendan Allen
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Cody Gibson vs. Aori Qileng
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Kevin Holland vs. Mike Malott
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Marlon Vera vs. Aiemann Zahabi
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Manon Fiorot vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
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Davey Grant vs. Charles Jourdain
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Drew Dober vs. Kyle Prepolec
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HyunSung Park vs. Bruno Silva
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Danny Barlow vs. Djorden Santos
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Stephanie Luciano vs. Ravena Oliveira
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Azamat Bekoev vs. Yousri Belgaroui
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Matt Frevola vs. Kyle Nelson
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
