Brett Okamoto
Shut
Brett Okamoto
ESPN Employees Author
Brett Okamoto has reported on combined martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has coated the entire largest occasions in fight sports activities throughout that point, together with in-depth interviews and options with names reminiscent of Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was additionally a producer on the 30 for 30 movie: “Chuck and Tito,” which regarded again on the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
Ian Parker
Oct 16, 2025, 07:58 AM ET
Using one of many hottest streaks within the UFC, Reinier de Ridder (21-2) is again in motion for the fourth time this yr at UFC Combat Evening in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Saturday (7 p.m. ET on ESPN+, prelims at 4 p.m.). His opponent, Brendan Allen (25-7), is stepping in on brief discover after Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez withdrew due to harm final month.
De Ridder, ESPN’s sixth-ranked middleweight, is undefeated in his four-fight UFC tenure and Allen, No. 10 by ESPN, can also be coming off a win. He gained a unanimous choice over veteran Marvin Vettori in July.
ESPN MMA analysts Din Thomas and Anthony Smith present their major occasion predictions, and ESPN betting knowledgeable Ian Parker provides perception on the worth bets out there on the battle card.
Middleweight major occasion
Professional
Decide
Methodology
Din ThomasMMA coach
De Ridder
Determination
Anthony SmithESPN MMA analyst
Allen
Determination
To ensure that Allen to win fights, he has to have the ability to take his opponent down. He’s sometimes the higher grappler in each battle he wins. Right here, I believe De Ridder might be the higher grappler. De Ridder ought to be capable to reverse any place Allen places him in and find yourself on prime. I’m saying De Ridder by choice, nevertheless it wouldn’t shock me if De Ridder obtained the submission. — Din Thomas
Allen is a greater striker than De Ridder, and I believe he’s the higher wrestler. I don’t assume De Ridder will be capable to take him down, so the grappling needs to be managed extra by Allen. If I find yourself being mistaken on this, I believe it is going to be as a result of Allen typically fades underneath a excessive tempo. When he’s pushed actually laborious, we’ve seen him fall behind within the later rounds, however I believe he has the instruments to win this matchup. — Anthony Smith
Betting evaluation
Odds correct as of Oct. 16. For essentially the most up-to-date odds, go to ESPN BET.
Parker: De Ridder to win (-210). If Allen is ready to pull off the upset, he can put himself within the middleweight title image in 2026. Nevertheless, I consider a five-round battle favors De Ridder over Allen. De Ridder went 5 rounds with Robert Whittaker in July and was capable of dictate the tempo within the last spherical to get the win. Until Allen catches De Ridder in Spherical 1, his gasoline tank will probably run out because the battle goes on, giving De Ridder the chance to take the win.
Parker’s greatest bets on the remainder of the cardboard
play
0:50
Mike Malott will get enormous end in entrance of hometown crowd
Mike Malott wins a vital bout vs. Adam Fugitt in entrance of his fellow Canadian followers.
Welterweight: Kevin Holland vs. Mike Malott
Over 1.5 rounds: This needs to be an extremely shut battle between two well-rounded fighters. Coming off a knockout loss to Daniel Rodriguez in July, I count on fan-favorite Holland to be extra defense-minded and fewer reckless offensively to keep away from getting tagged by Malott, who’s on a two-fight successful streak. Malott has additionally been utilizing his wrestling and floor sport extra just lately, which is able to turn out to be useful right here. I believe Malott could have success with takedowns and preserve Holland on his again for almost all of the battle. If end occurs, I see it coming late within the battle, so take over 1.5 rounds.
Males’s bantamweight: Aiemann Zahabi vs Marlon Vera
All of ESPN. Multi functional place.
Watch your favourite occasions within the newly enhanced ESPN App. Be taught extra about what plan is best for you. Signal Up Now
Zahabi to win (-135): Coming off his win over José Aldo in Montreal in Might, Zahabi might be trying so as to add one other seasoned veteran and former title challenger to his résumé. Each Zahabi and Vera are extraordinarily sturdy, however the distinction of their battle might be Zahabi’s output and Vera’s tendency to start out gradual. Zahabi additionally has the power to take down Vera and preserve him there, if he isn’t having success on the toes. On prime of all of that, Vera has taken plenty of injury in his 15-year skilled profession. Greater than probably this battle goes the gap and Zahabi wins by choice.
Ladies’s flyweight: Manon Fiorot vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
Manon to win by choice: In her first battle since shedding her title battle to Valentina Shevchenko in Might, Fiorot might be taking up the surging Jasdavicius in Fiorot’s residence nation of Canada. This needs to be an fascinating battle between two proficient fighters. Fiorot is a 2-to-1 favourite, and I believe it is smart. On the toes, she is the higher striker, and except Jasdavicius can get Fiorot to the bottom, I count on Fiorot to win a three-round kickboxing battle by choice.
