*Reinier de Ridder lands a vicious knee to the body of Bo Nickal. MMA Fighting.*

The UFC heads to the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada, with a top-notch Fight Night card. The entire card has been filled with outstanding matchups, rising stars, and established contenders all looking to prove themselves on the biggest stage in MMA. In the co-main event, we’ll see two exciting Welterweights go toe-to-toe when crafty veteran Kevin Holland takes on a heavy-handed grappler in Mike Malott. In the main event, two top-ten Middleweights collide in the Octagon when grappling ace Reiner de Ridder squares off against the always dangerous Brendan Allen. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Kyle Nelson vs. Matt Frevola

*Kyle Nelson clips Bill Algeo with a stiff right hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.*

Lightweight Bout

Kyle Nelson: 16-6-1, 6 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Matt Frevola: 11-5-1, 4 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Nelson has won three of his last five fights, with one draw, and holds UFC victories over Bill Algeo (18-9-0), Fernando Padilla (16-6-0), and Blake Bilder (8-2-1). He’s a powerful striker who’s always coming forward and never slows down. He fights behind his jab, throwing it with plenty of power, and is efficient with his striking, rarely wasting energy. Nelson does an excellent job of mixing in kicks with his punches, constantly throwing leg kicks and sneaking head kicks in at the end of combinations. He has solid footwork, regularly cutting off the cage before entering the pocket to unload looping hooks and overhands. Training at House of Champions, he’s landing, on average, over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC and is very strong in the clinch. Nelson throws everything with power and excels at landing kicks and counter shots on his opponent while they’re attempting a strike.

*Matt Frevola knocks Ottman Azaitar unconscious with a heavy right hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Frevola has won three of his last five bouts, holding UFC victories over Jalin Turner (14-9-0), Drew Dober (27-15-0), and Ottman Azaitar (13-3-0). He is a wild striker who always comes out guns blazing and pushes a heavy pace from start to finish. He relentlessly pressures his opponents, is always willing to brawl in the pocket, and throws everything in combination with serious power. Frevola tends to headhunt but won’t telegraph his attacks, possessing very fast kicks and one-shot knockout power. Training at Gracie Tampa South, he started his UFC tenure as more of a grappler, averaging over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes. He has solid top pressure and devastating ground and pound, but typically seems content with staying on his feet and letting his hands go. All of Frevola’s knockout wins have come in round one, and he’s always pursuing a finish.

Cody Gibson vs. Aoriqileng

*Cody Gibson unloads a vicious ground and pound elbow onto Chad Anheliger. Credit: MMA Junkie.*

Bantamweight Bout

Cody Gibson: 22-11-0, 7 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Aoriqileng: 25-12-0, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Gibson has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Brian Kelleher (24-16-0) and Chad Anheliger (13-8-0). He’s a dominant grappler with excellent submissions and heavy top control. He pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell, making good use of his length on the feet and usually throwing kicks from range and long straights before closing the distance. Gibson will shoot for takedowns early on and is a grinder, looking to wear out his opponent with a nonstop onslaught of grappling offense. He’s relentless in top position, constantly transitioning between throwing ground and pound and pursuing submissions without losing control of his opponent. Training at Xtreme Couture, he’s technical and efficient on top, always choosing position over submission and doing an excellent job to ward off scrambles and reversals. Gibson has outstanding finishing abilities on the mat and has dangerous chokes, having secured all five of his submission victories via choke.

*Aoriqileng lands a powerful shot to the body of Cody Durden. Credit: Zuffa LLC.*

Aoriqileng has won two of his last five fights, with one no contest, with UFC victories coming over Jay Perrin (12-8-0), Johnny Muñoz (12-4-0), and Cameron Else (11-4-0). He’s a slick striker with a Sanda background who’s always dangerous. He’s very explosive, often starting out slow and not offering much in terms of movement or feints before suddenly coming forward and unloading heavy shots. Aoriqileng tends to heat up as the fight continues, steadily increasing his aggression and output but remaining technical throughout. Training at Fight Ready, he’s a solid grappler with heavy ground and pound and solid submission defense, fully capable of doing damage from top position and surviving off of his back. He does an excellent job of varying his attacks, never headhunting and constantly mixing up his targets between the head, body, and legs of his opponents. Aoriqileng carries his power throughout the fight and can produce a finish at any time, but has secured seven of his eight knockout wins in the first round and is especially dangerous early on.

#2 Manon Fiorot vs. #5 Jasmine Jasudavicius

*Manon Fiorot blasts Mayra Bueno Silva with a right hand. Credit: Zuffa LLC.*

Women’s Flyweight Bout

Manon Fiorot: 12-2-0, 6 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Jasmine Jasudavicius: 14-3-0, 2 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Fiorot has won four of her last five bouts and holds UFC victories coming over #4 ranked Flyweight Erin Blanchfield (13-2-0), #7 ranked Flyweight Rose Namajunas (15-7-0), and #8 ranked Strawweight Tabatha Ricci (12-3-0). She is an efficient, karate-style fighter with serious power and speed. She has outstanding lead leg attacks, constantly throwing side and head kicks without any load up or tell. Fiorot is in perpetual motion, producing solid output while remaining highly accurate and throwing everything purposefully. Training with the Boxing Squad, she has excellent footwork and effortlessly moves in and out of the pocket. She has outlanded six of her eight UFC opponents and has successfully defended 66% of the significant strikes attempted on her in the promotion. Fiorot has landed at least one takedown in six of her seven UFC wins and will rain down heavy ground and pound when in top position.

*Jasmine Jasudavicius batters Priscila Cachoeira with brutal ground and pound. Credit: Zuffa LLC.*

Jasudavicius is on a five-fight win streak, holding UFC victories over #9 ranked Strawweight Jéssica Andrade (26-15-0), #10 ranked Flyweight Miranda Maverick (17-6-0), and #10 ranked Bantamweight Mayra Bueno Silva (10-5-1). She’s a well-rounded combatant with outstanding wrestling and technical striking skills. Training at Niagara Top Team, she’s willing to exchange on the feet and eat a shot to land one, but won’t get sloppy, always keeping her punches straight and tight. Jasudavicius’s striking sets up her grappling, often punching to close the distance before shooting in for a takedown. She has outstanding takedowns and is capable of adding elevation to them, performing powerful slams before assuming a dominant position on the ground. She has outstanding top pressure and is very active on top, constantly looking to improve position while relentlessly raining down vicious ground and pound. Jasudavicius has taken down nine of her ten UFC opponents and owns the record for the largest strike differential ever in a UFC women’s fight, landing 326 total strikes and absorbing just 26 in return against Priscila Cachoeira.

#7 Marlon Vera vs. #9 Aiemann Zahabi

*Marlon Vera stuns Dominick Cruz with a powerful right hook. Credit: Zuffa LLC.*

Bantamweight Bout

Marlon Vera: 23-10-1, 8 KO/TKO, 10 Sub.

Aiemann Zahabi: 13-2-0, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Vera has won two of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over #1 ranked Bantamweight Sean O’Malley (18-3-0), #13 ranked Bantamweight Rob Font (22-9-0), and Dominick Cruz (24-4-0). He is an experienced veteran with a diverse striking game and a granite chin. He has an impressive ability to absorb damage and continue forward, absorbing, on average, over 121 significant strikes per fight in his last five outings without a single finish loss. Vera improves as the fight continues, getting increasingly aggressive and precise, particularly with his dangerous clinch striking and kicking game. He stays technical across five rounds and regularly switches stances, holding power in both hands but never telegraphing or loading up. He supplies his opponent with a steady dose of kicks, constantly throwing various attacks with his legs, all with heavy power. Vera has dangerous BJJ and slick submissions, so although he’s most comfortable on his feet, he can produce a finish from anywhere.

*Aiemann Zahabi stuns José Aldo with a left hook. Credit: Rocky Mountain Outlook.*

Zahabi is on a six-fight winning streak and has earned UFC victories over José Aldo (32-10-0), Javid Basharat (14-2-0), and Pedro Munhoz (20-10-0). Zahabi is a sharp striker with crisp boxing and solid power in his hands. He’s highly technical, always keeping his guard high and his punches tight and straight, rarely getting drawn into a brawl. He favors power to volume but is very explosive, often going from 0-60 on a moment’s notice and extending five or six punch combinations. He has excellent footwork and distance management, remaining in perpetual motion while darting in and out of the pocket without taking damage. Training at TriStar Gym, he’s unlikely to take the fight to the mat but has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and excellent takedown defense. Zahabi has secured all his finishes in round one, but heats up as the fight continues, steadily increasing his pace and output.

#15 Kevin Holland vs. Mike Malott

*Kevin Holland locks in a tight anaconda choke on Vicente Luque. Credit: Zuffa LLC.*

Welterweight Bout

Kevin Holland: 28-14-0, 13 KO/TKO, 10 Sub.

Mike Malott: 12-2-1, 5 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Holland has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #6 ranked Middleweight Anthony Hernandez (15-2-0), #7 ranked Welterweight Joaquin Buckley (21-7-0), and Vicente Luque (23-12-1). A wild scrapper who’s comfortable anywhere the fight goes, he’s always dangerous and can finish the fight anywhere. He’s an aggressive striker, throwing everything with serious power and in combination, and is always willing to brawl. Holland is lengthy and capable of fighting on the inside or at range, but typically looks to crash into the pocket and unload combinations. Training at Travis Lutter BJJ, he’s a solid grappler, holding a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and landing, on average, about one takedown per fifteen minutes. He has solid top control and excellent submissions, particularly chokes, with seven of his nine submission victories coming via choke. Holland is one of the most active fighters in MMA, having fought 27 times in the UFC since 2018, earning ten post-fight bonuses during his tenure with the promotion.

*Mike Malott lands a powerful kick to the body of Trevin Giles. Credit: MMA Junkie.*

Malott has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Charles Radtke (10-5-0), Adam Fugitt (10-5-0), and Trevin Giles (16-7-0). He’s dangerous on the feet with a solid kicking game and one-shot knockout power. He’s highly technical and accurate, throwing every shot with purpose and plenty of power. Malott has excellent footwork and typically throws in combination, supplying his opponent with a healthy dose of hooks and overhands. Training at Niagara Top Team, he’s a solid grappler with great wrestling skills and tremendous pressure on top. He’s landing, on average, about two takedowns per fifteen minutes and has a dangerous submission game, particularly chokes. Similar to his striking, Malott stays technical and patient on the ground, looking for openings and quickly advancing position.

#4 Reiner de Ridder vs. #9 Brendan Allen

*Reinier de Ridder lands a heavy ground and pound shot on Robert Whittaker. Credit: Zuffa LLC.*

Middleweight Bout

Reinier de Ridder: 21-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 13 Sub.

Brendan Allen: 25-7-0, 5 KO/TKO, 14 Sub.

De Ridder has won four of his last five fights, with UFC victories over #8 ranked Middleweight Robert Whittaker (27-9-0), Kevin Holland (28-14-0), and Bo Nickal (7-1-0). He’s a former ONE Championship Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion and is an outstanding, dangerous grappler. He has an awkward striking style, remaining upright, fighting behind his jab, and throwing kicks at range before closing the distance. De Ridder is powerful in the clinch and constantly looks for body lock and trip takedowns, often from the opening bell. He has strong top control, continually attacking and improving in top position, and fluidly moving from one position to another. He holds black belts in Judo and BJJ, utilizing ground and pound to wear down his opponent and create submission openings, typically pursuing chokes. De Ridder pushes a consistent pace throughout, but has found nine of his thirteen submissions in the first round, and is most dangerous early on.

*Brendan Allen blasts Marvin Vettori with a right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.*

Allen has won three of his last five bouts, holding UFC victories over #14 ranked Middleweight Marvin Vettori (19-9-1), Chris Curtis (32-12-0), and Paul Craig (17-10-1). He’s an excellent grappler with a lethal submission game and solid power in his hands. He’s always dangerous, whether on top or on his back, constantly pursuing submissions and looking to finish the fight. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he’ll throw heavy ground and pound in top position, remaining active while looking for submission openings. He has solid striking to complement his grappling, possessing decent power in his hands and kicks, and utilizing a boxing style when on his feet. He consistently maintains a high pace, has solid cardiovascular endurance, and can comfortably go five rounds. Allen has secured eleven of his fourteen submissions via rear-naked choke and is deadly if he can find his opponent’s neck.

Best Bets

Manon Fiorot by Decision: This is a high-stakes matchup of two talented Flyweights. This is a massive opportunity for either fighter to put themselves at the front of the line for a title shot. Fiorot, who had her 12-fight win streak snapped earlier this year by current champion Valentina Shevchenko, could easily earn another title shot with an impressive win in this bout. Jasudavicius is currently on a five-fight win streak and quickly growing her resume of victories, and has an opportunity to score the biggest win of her career and solidify herself as a title challenger. While Jasudavicius is coming off a very impressive victory over Jéssica Andrade, she has not faced an opponent nearly as well-rounded as Fiorot, or at least, not one with her level of takedown defense. Fiorot, while often considered a striking specialist, has shown outstanding anti-wrestling skills in her UFC tenure, most recently denying seven of Shevchenko’s nine takedown attempts on her in their title fight. Jasudavicius is a competent striker, albeit somewhat limited in her skills, primarily relying on her boxing and durability when on her feet. I anticipate Fiorot overwhelming her on the feet, forcing Jasudavicius to fight at range and not allowing her to close the distance and exchange in the pocket. I expect Fiorot to deny Jasudavicius’ takedown attempts, keep her on the outside of the cage, and light her up on the feet en route to a hard-fought decision victory on Saturday.

Mike Malott Moneyline: An excellent matchup of two exciting Welterweights, this fight is sure to deliver. Although both are always in fun fights, their styles differ considerably. Holland is a very unorthodox fighter, using lengthy, powerful striking and possessing a dangerous submission game. Malott is much more typical, with excellent boxing and power in his hands, along with technical wrestling and BJJ skills. Holland can be a very tough fighter to predict, due to his seemingly carefree approach to MMA as a whole, and you never know exactly what version of him you’ll see inside the Octagon. Unlike Holland, Malott is very consistent in his performances and strategies, and seems to have only improved since his upset loss to Neil Magny. I expect Malott to push a heavy pace from the opening bell, forcing Holland into a dogfight on the feet before pursuing takedowns. I anticipate Malott getting the better of Holland on the feet, fighting him inside the pocket, and using his boxing to wear down Holland and create openings for grappling exchanges. Once Malott can get a hold of Holland, I expect him to bring the fight to the mat and keep it there, controlling Holland and landing ground and pound while hunting for submissions. When the smoke clears, regardless of how the fight ends, I believe Malott will have his hand raised as the victor.

De Ridder vs. Allen to Not Go the Distance: This fight is a great matchup of two high-level Middleweights. While Allen has been towards the top of the division for a few years now, de Ridder has quickly blazed his way to the top with a string of impressive victories. Both have shown they have the ability to go five rounds, but they’ve also both shown incredible finishing abilities. In a combined fifty-five fights, they have produced thirty-seven finishes, with 22 of those finishes coming in the first round. Of those finishes, they have combined for 27 submissions and ten knockouts. Both fighters can finish a fight from anywhere and are willing to take risks to achieve that. This is also an enormous fight for either man; for de Ridder, this is an opportunity to add another UFC veteran’s name to his resume and possibly put him into title contention. For Allen, a victory here would put him directly into the top five and solidify him as one of the best in the division, as well as a win or two away from the title. Neither of these fighters is known for taking their time or fighting cautiously, and I don’t foresee either of them giving the other much respect when they enter the Octagon. I expect some wild exchanges on the feet early on, before one of these talented grapplers inevitably pursues a takedown. I anticipate the grappling exchanges to be close and competitive, but also where I expect this fight to end. Regardless of who walks away with a victory, I do not expect this fight to go to a decision.

UFC Fight Night: de Ridder vs. Allen Preview