Oct 18, 2025; Vancouver, BC, CANADA; Brendan Allen (blue gloves) reacts after the fight against Reinier De Ridder (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images

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Brendan Allen Calls Out Khamzat Chimaev, Dricus Du Plessis And Other Middleweight Top Dogs After Dominant Win At UFC Vancouver

Short notice fights can make or break a fighter’s career. Some fighters crumble under pressure when the call comes. Others rise to the occasion and deliver career-defining performances. Brendan Allen falls squarely into that second category. When Anthony Hernandez pulled out injured, Allen got the call just three and a half weeks before UFC Vancouver.

Most fighters would hesitate to face someone like Reinier de Ridder on short notice. The Dutch submission artist had submitted three of his first four UFC opponents. But Allen didn’t just accept the fight, he dominated it! After getting thoroughly controlled in the first round, Allen flipped the entire script. He reversed positions, landed devastating ground strikes, and completely broke de Ridder’s will over four grueling rounds. de Ridder’s corner stopped the fight before round five and Allen had just scored the biggest win of his career.

IT'S ALL OVER! 🤯@BrendanAllenMMA wins at the end of Round 4 for the biggest victory of his career!

[ #UFCVancouver ] pic.twitter.com/IVhVX3q2BF
— UFC (@ufc) October 19, 2025

But he wasn’t done making statements. During his post-fight interview, Allen (26-7) called out the middleweight top dogs with the confidence of someone who just proved his point. He specifically targeted middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev and former champion Dricus du Plessis, making it crystal clear he wants the biggest fights available.

Brendan Allen Issues Bold Callouts

Allen’s callout of Khamzat Chimaev was direct and fearless. His confidence wasn’t misplaced either. Allen had just out-grappled one of the best submission artists in the division. He showed excellent defensive awareness and even better offensive transitions. His cardio held up beautifully while de Ridder faded badly. Allen’s mental toughness shined through when he survived that difficult first round and completely turned the tables. He further called out Dricus Du Plessis if Chimaev fight wasn’t in the books.

“Chimaev, you want a good grappler? You want someone that’s young and hungry? Come get it, baby. If not, Dricus, where you at? I’ve been trying to get you for a minute.”

Du Plessis recently lost the middleweight title to Chimaev and likely needs a bounce-back fight. A matchup with Allen would make perfect sense for both fighters right now. Du Plessis gets a chance to prove himself against a surging contender. Allen gets the big-name opponent he clearly craves.

Allen also called out Sean Strickland for a rematch. The duo fought in the UFC before back in November of 2020. This fight didn’t go Allen’s way as he got finished by Strickland in the second round. Now, he wants to make it right and get his win over ‘Tarzan.’

This victory marked Allen’s second consecutive win after he defeated Marvin Vettori in July. That Vettori fight earned Fight of the Night honors and showed Allen’s improved striking game. Now he’s proven his grappling can hang with the division’s elite too. The middleweight division is wide open right now, with several contenders jockeying for position. And Allen just forced his way into that conversation with authority.

(Image Credit: Simon Fearn – Imagn Images)

Brendan Allen

Dricus Du Plessis

Khamzat Chiamev

Reinier de Ridder

Sean Strickland

UFC Vancouver

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!