This past weekend’s UFC event in Vancouver was an odd one, to say the least. Underdog victories, a corner stoppage in the main event, questionable refereeing, and quick finishes all made headlines throughout the main card. As with all UFC events, it delivered intense action and showcased high-level mixed martial arts, but UFC Vancouver will likely be remembered more for its bizarre moments than anything else.
The first fight on the main card was a lightweight bout between Kyle Nelson and Matt Frevola. In the first round, Nelson hurt Frevola with a flurry of punches. As the round wound down, with just three seconds left, referee Dan Miragliotta unexpectedly separated the fighters. Fans were confused, as Nelson appeared close to finishing the fight.
Miragliotta later said he mistakenly believed he had heard the end-of-round horn. A veteran official and one of the sport’s most respected referees, Miragliotta acknowledged the error. Nelson maintained control for the rest of the bout and earned a unanimous decision win — but it’s fair to wonder whether those lost three seconds could have led to an earlier finish.
The next bout didn’t require any extra time. Charles “Air” Jourdain lived up to his nickname in a bantamweight matchup against Davey Grant. In the first round, Jourdain landed a flying knee that rocked Grant, then followed with a guillotine choke to seal the submission victory.
“I truly believe I have the best guillotine in the UFC,” Jourdain said. “And if I can put my knee in your face right before, it’s even easier.”
A native of Canada, Jourdain now holds a two-fight win streak after moving down from featherweight.
Following that finish, a ranked women’s flyweight fight saw Manon Fiorot take on Jasmine Jasudavicius. Fiorot, coming off a loss to champion Valentina Shevchenko, was looking to rebound against the Canadian underdog. She did just that, earning a knockout in the first round with a flurry of strikes.
Fiorot had previously won seven straight fights before the Shevchenko bout, and remains a top contender at flyweight. With Shevchenko set to face strawweight champion Zhang Weili in a super fight next month, Fiorot could soon receive a title shot.
The next fight was far less clear-cut. In a close bantamweight contest, Aiemann Zahabi took on former title challenger Marlon “Chito” Vera. The two engaged in a striking battle that went the full 15 minutes, with no clear winner. Both corners celebrated at the final horn, but the decision went to Zahabi via split decision (29-28). Vera immediately left the cage after the result was read.
“To win at this level, it takes your whole heart,” Zahabi said. “It doesn’t matter who — I’m gonna fight my heart out.”
The unpredictability continued as Kevin Holland faced Mike Malott. The fight nearly ended in the first round when Malott landed a low blow, forcing Holland to take the full five-minute recovery period. Although Holland considered stopping, he chose to continue.
From there, it was all Malott. The Canadian controlled the remainder of the fight with strikes to the body and head, earning a decision win — the biggest of his career so far. Despite the loss, Holland, one of the most active fighters in UFC history, could return to the octagon before year’s end.
The main event featured one of the strangest endings of the year. Brendan Allen, ranked No. 9, stepped in on short notice to replace Anthony Hernandez against unbeaten middleweight Reinier de Ridder. Most had de Ridder as the favorite, especially considering Allen had lost to Hernandez earlier in the year.
De Ridder started strong, securing takedowns and controlling much of the early action. But by Round 4, fatigue set in. Allen took advantage, reversing positions and landing effective strikes. Before Round 5 could begin, de Ridder’s corner stopped the fight, handing Allen a TKO victory.
After the win, Allen called out champion Khamzat Chimaev and former champ Dricus du Plessis.
“Chimaev, you want a good grappler? You want someone that’s young and hungry? Come get it,” Allen said. “If not — Dricus, where you at? I’ve been trying to get you for a minute.”
It remains to be seen whether either callout will be answered, but one thing is certain: this was a statement win for Brendan Allen in a chaotic, memorable night in Vancouver.
