The UFC returns to Canada tonight, and the headline event will be a clash between middleweight contenders Reinier de Ridder and Brendan Allen.
De Ridder is the former middleweight and light heavyweight champion at ONE Championship, and could earn a shot at the UFC title with a win at UFC Fight Night. He's expected to get that victory, with UFC odds installing him as a -210 favorite and Allen coming back at +160.
Here are my best de Ridder vs. Allen predictions and free betting picks for October 18 from Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
Want to make sure Covers shows up often in your Google search results and Discover feed?
Simply click here and add Covers as one of your "source preferences".
De Ridder vs Allen prediction and best bet
- My fight prediction: De Ridder moneyline (-210 at BET99)
- My best bet: Fight to go the Distance - Yes (+190 at BET99)
Fight analysis
Reinier de Ridder has a 21-2 record in his career while going 4-0 in the UFC. He has pulled off back-to-back upsets, knocking out Bo Nickel as a +245 underdog in May before beating former interim champ Robert Whittaker by split decision in July.
Brendan Allen is 8-2 in his last 10 fights and is fresh off a decision win against Marvin Vettori in July. He has a pair of recent decision losses, but those came against No. 2 middleweight contender Nassourdine Imamov and No. 6 contender Anthony Hernandez.
Allen is a well-rounded fighter with good striking, solid grappling, and reliable cardio. That said, he has poor fight IQ and doesn't stand out in any area which is problematic against opponents with elite skillsets. That makes this a tough matchup against de Ridder, who is elite in the clinch and huge for this division.
De Ridder is an awkward striker but Allen doesn't have the power to hurt him on the feet. RDR should be able to control the clinch and use his unorthodox trips and throws to get Allen to the mat. From there, his strength and top control will lead to a win.
Best bet analysis
De Ridder has a 85.7% finish rate, but the majority of those victories came against lower-caliber opponents. His toughest foe was Whittaker, and he was unable to knock him down or attempt a submission against him in 25 minutes.
Thirteen of De Ridder's 18 stoppage wins have come via submission, but Allen has good scrambling ability and hasn't been submitted since he was 20 years old. With Allen's last four fights going the distance, this prop is tough to turn down at nearly +200.
Reinier de Ridder vs Brendan Allen odds
 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Method of Victory | De Ridder | Allen |
| To win outright | -200 | +165 |
| To win by KO/TKO | +400 | +600 |
| To win by decision | +295 | +600 |
| To win by submission | +230 | +600 |
| Draw | +3300 | +3300 |
Odds as of 10-18.
Bet on the UFC at BET99!
One of Canada's best sportsbooks for UFC betting, join BET99 and get up to $1,000 bonus bets back if your first bet doesn’t win when using our BET99 promo code COVERSBONUS!
*Not available in Ontario
Reinier de Ridder vs Brendan Allen tale of the tape
| De Ridder | Allen | |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Age | 29 |
| 6-foot-4 | Height | 6-foot-2 |
| Middleweight | Weight Class | Middleweight |
| 79 inches | Reach | 75 inches |
| 21-2 | Record | 25-7 |
| 5 | Wins by KO | 5 |
| 13 | Wins by submission | 14 |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
