Expert picks, best bets: Can Reinier de Ridder continue his 2025 win streak?

2 weeks ago 3

Brett Okamoto
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Brett Okamoto
ESPN Staff Writer
Ian Parker

Oct 16, 2025, 07:58 AM ET

On 1 of the hottest streaks successful the UFC, Reinier de Ridder (21-2) is backmost successful enactment for the 4th clip this twelvemonth astatine UFC Fight Night successful Vancouver, British Columbia, connected Saturday (7 p.m. ET connected ESPN+, prelims astatine 4 p.m.). His opponent, Brendan Allen (25-7), is stepping successful connected abbreviated announcement aft Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez withdrew due to the fact that of wounded past month.

De Ridder, ESPN's sixth-ranked middleweight, is undefeated successful his four-fight UFC tenure and Allen, No. 10 by ESPN, is besides coming disconnected a win. He won a unanimous determination implicit seasoned Marvin Vettori successful July.

ESPN MMA analysts Din Thomas and Anthony Smith supply their main lawsuit predictions, and ESPN betting adept Ian Parker adds penetration connected the worth bets disposable connected the combat card.

Middleweight main event

In bid for Allen to triumph fights, helium has to beryllium capable to instrumentality his hostile down. He's typically the amended grappler successful each combat helium wins. Here, I deliberation De Ridder is astir apt the amended grappler. De Ridder should beryllium capable to reverse immoderate presumption Allen puts him successful and extremity up connected top. I'm saying De Ridder by decision, but it wouldn't astonishment maine if De Ridder got the submission. -- Din Thomas

Allen is simply a amended striker than De Ridder, and I deliberation he's the amended wrestler. I don't deliberation De Ridder volition beryllium capable to instrumentality him down, truthful the grappling should beryllium controlled much by Allen. If I extremity up being incorrect connected this, I deliberation it volition beryllium due to the fact that Allen sometimes fades nether a precocious pace. When he's pushed truly hard, we've seen him autumn down successful the aboriginal rounds, but I deliberation helium has the tools to triumph this matchup. -- Anthony Smith

Betting analysis

Odds close arsenic of Oct. 16. For the astir up-to-date odds, sojourn ESPN BET.

Parker: De Ridder to triumph (-210). If Allen is capable to propulsion disconnected the upset, helium tin enactment himself successful the middleweight rubric representation successful 2026. However, I judge a five-round combat favors De Ridder implicit Allen. De Ridder went 5 rounds with Robert Whittaker successful July and was capable to dictate the gait successful the last circular to get the win. Unless Allen catches De Ridder successful Round 1, his state vessel volition apt tally retired arsenic the combat goes on, giving De Ridder the accidental to instrumentality the win.