Reinier De Ridder is on the brink of something big. The 35-year-old Dutchman, a two-division world champion in ONE Championship, has stormed into the UFC with four straight wins in less than a year. From submitting veterans to narrowly edging out Robert Whittaker in a five-round war, De Ridder has gone from ‘newcomer’ to ‘title threat’ faster than anyone expected. Now, at UFC Vancouver, he gets another chance to prove that his reign of momentum is no fluke.

But it hasn’t come without surprises. De Ridder was originally set to face Anthony ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez, a pressure-heavy grappler known for breaking opponents with pace. An injury forced Hernandez out, and in stepped Brendan Allen, a submission artist with an aggressive style but, according to De Ridder, one with exploitable cracks. So how does ‘The Dutch Knight’ plan to dismantle a man as dangerous as ‘All In’?

Reinier De Ridder proclaims his jiu-jitsu will be “way better” than Brendan Allen’s at UFC Vancouver

Speaking to ESPN MMA ahead of the fight, De Ridder was calm and confident as he broke down his preparation. He revealed the impact of the change in opponents on his training camp by stating, “Yeah, the first couple of weeks when it was still Fluffy, I was really, really going hard on the cardio to be prepared for what he brings. Uh, so it was nice when the opponent switched. I was able to focus a bit more on technique, specifically preparing for him and giving my body a little bit more time to recover. “

That shift in focus could be crucial. When asked about the contrast between the two names, the Dutch fighter revealed, “Yeah, they’re pretty similar. Both of them box very well, I think, especially in the pocket. Fluffy wrestles a bit better; I think Brendan’s jiu-jitsu is a bit better. But I try not to worry too much about what he brings. I think my jiu-jitsu is going to be way better, and that’s what I’ve been working.”

However, Reinier De Ridder doesn’t just want to beat Allen; he wants to expose him. According to him, in the conversation with ESPN MMA, “Because we’ve seen Brendan fade a little bit the later rounds in previous fights, so that must be something he’s been working on. And he starts very quickly. He starts very, very well in the first round. So I think that first round is going to be very, very important, whoever gets dominant first.”

It’s a statement rooted in data. Allen has lost both of his recent fights that went the distance, against Anthony Hernandez at UFC Fight Night 252 and Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night 243, after strong starts. His pressure and scrambling often drop off past Round 2, something De Ridder believes he can exploit. And while both men are elite grapplers, the Dutchman feels he holds the upper hand there, too.

When you strip away the pre-fight chatter, UFC Vancouver’s main event is a chess match between two submission specialists. Reinier De Ridder, a long, tactical southpaw, has built his reputation on control, smothering opponents on the mat with the precision of a surgeon. Allen, on the other hand, is chaos incarnate. A BJJ black belt under Daniel Wanderley, he attacks with reckless intensity, sometimes even chasing submissions at the cost of a dominant position.

Stylistically, the matchup is fascinating. Allen fights orthodox, while De Ridder brings his southpaw stance into play, using long jabs, front kicks, and step-up knees to control distance and establish his range. His transition from judo to wrestling has made him even more versatile, and at Sanford MMA in Florida, he’s sharpened his takedowns under top-tier coaching. Now, with UFC Vancouver marking his second main event in a row, Reinier De Ridder is chasing something more: a shot at the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev for the middleweight gold!

‘The Dutch Knight’ believes his style is “perfect” to end Khamzat Chimaev’s reign

When you mention Khamzat Chimaev’s name, most fighters hesitate. Reinier De Ridder? He leans in. With UFC Vancouver serving as his stepping stone, the Dutchman already has his eyes locked on the undefeated middleweight champion. And while many see Chimaev as unstoppable, De Ridder believes he may be the one fighter who truly understands how to crack the code.

In a recent conversation with Uncrowned, he confessed, “There’s a lot of pressure on my shoulders here. I was very impressed with what [Chimaev] did in that ‘DDP’ [Dricus du Plessis] fight. He was so dominant, so fully in control, it was crazy to see. And yes, he could have done more, but he was just very keen on getting the win and not risking it at all.”

However, his own skill set, a mix of elite-level grappling and crisp Dutch-style striking, offers a puzzle few opponents can solve, as he further shared, “I do believe that my style is a perfect fit for what he brings to the table. I hope we get to see it sometime soon.”

As such, for Reinier De Ridder, UFC Vancouver isn’t just another main event; it’s a proving ground. The Dutchman has made it clear he’s not here to blend in with the division’s elite; he’s here to conquer it. Brendan Allen is the obstacle in front of him, but Khamzat Chimaev is the mountain on the horizon!