Potential matchups for Brendan Allen, Reinier de Ridder after bout

Allen gets a No. 1 contendership fight

Allen was ranked ninth in the middleweight division coming into Fight Night. He took the bout on short notice after No. 6 ranked Anthony Hernandez had to pull out due to injury. 

Allen called out the champion Khamzat Chimeav in his post-fight interview. This is unlikely though as No. 2 Nassourdine Imavov seems like the most likely fighter to get the next title shot. 

"Chimaev, you want a good grappler? You want someone that’s young and hungry? Come get it, baby," Allen told Daniel Cormier after Saturday's win. "If not, Dricus where you at? I’ve been trying to get you for a minute. And if not, Sean (Strickland), it’s time to run it back, baby.”

Dricus Du Plessis seems like the perfect opponent for Allen. Both Allen and Du Plessis have skill sets on both the feet and on the ground. Du Plessis is a former champion and will give Allen his biggest test to date. Both fighters also still need to prove that they are worthy of the next title shot. 

If not Du Plessis, Allen also called out Sean Strickland. The No. 3-ranked Strickland knocked out Allen in their first fight in November 2020 and Allen would like to settle the score. Strickland likes to set the pace and keep the fight standing. Allen’s grappling has only gotten better since their last fight and he could seriously challenge Strickland with his jiu-jitsu. 

de Ridder has to prove himself lower in the rankings

With de Ridder choosing not to continue at the stool after Round 4, he will most likely not get another high ranked fight right away. 

A matchup that makes sense for de Ridder would be Michael “Venom” Page. Page is currently the 10th-ranked fighter in the middleweight division. 

Page has a unique style. He keeps his hands low and has the quickness and defense to land significant strikes while limiting counters. de Ridder could prove himself again by finishing Page. An impressive win could get him right back into title contention. 

If the matchmakers want to give de Ridder another chance higher in the rankings, No. 7 Caio Borralho could make sense. Both de Ridder and Borralho were in fights that Dana White said would factor into the decision for the next title shot against champion Chimaev. 

Borralho fought Imavov in Paris on Sept. 6, losing by a decisive unanimous decision. Both de Ridder and Borralho were riding their hype and were checked in their most recent fights.. 

Borralho has amazing striking and cardio. That could be a matchup that de Ridder needs to prove himself and show he can dig deep. For Borralho, this could prove that he can beat elite grapplers and could handle himself against Chimaev in a title fight. This matchup makes a lot of sense for both fighters.