Daniel Cormier was full of praise for Brendan Allen following his standout performance at UFC Vancouver, where he defeated Reinier de Ridder in the night’s main event.
Allen, stepping in on short notice, produced one of the most commanding displays of his career. His grappling pressure and top control broke de Ridder’s resistance until the Dutchman’s corner stopped the fight before the fifth round. For Cormier, who was calling the action live, it was a clear statement of dominance.
“It Was All Dominance”
On his YouTube channel, the former two-division champion analyzed how Allen surprised even the most seasoned observers.
“I didn’t expect Reinier de Ridder to break in the way that he did,” Cormier said. “Brendan Allen told us that he was going to go out there and he was going to break RDR. But after watching de Ridder fight Robert Whittaker in the way that he did, watching him beat Bo Nickal the way that he did, watching what he did in ONE FC all those years to becoming the world champion in multiple weight classes, you just did not expect what happened.
“Brendan Allen started very quickly once he got on top. RDR was able to control him in Round 1. When you’re fresh, you can control, you can take the back. But the moment that he was able to lose position or switch position — I’m talking Brendan Allen — it was all dominance. He controlled him, he landed a ton of damage on him, and he really did a good job of taking over that fight. From Round 2 on, it was all Brendan Allen.”
Allen’s Rebound Year
Allen’s win marked a major turnaround after setbacks against Nassourdine Imavov and Anthony Hernandez in 2024. Following a key win over Marvin Vettori earlier this year, his victory in Vancouver reestablished him as a serious middleweight contender.
Cormier said Allen’s journey showed how quickly fortunes can flip in MMA.
“It just speaks to how quickly things can change for fighters,” Cormier noted. “Last year, Brendan Allen lost to Imavov and he lost to Fluffy Hernandez, and he spoke about how many changes he had to make… Tonight he changes everything with a result, following a result. Because in New Orleans he beat Marvin Vettori… He comes out tonight and beats Reinier de Ridder, who is a former two-division champion in ONE FC. The spectrum that this young man has been on over the course of the last year is truly telling.”
With this victory, Allen now finds himself closing in on the top of the division.
“So now Brendan Allen finds himself in the Top 5 and one fight away from potentially getting a title fight,” Cormier added. “That’s crazy!” via MMAFighting
Cormier’s closing words captured the sentiment of the night — a fighter rebuilding himself through hard work and mental toughness, proving once again that momentum in MMA can shift in an instant.
