(Editor’s note: This story was updated to include new information.)
Anthony Hernandez has withdrawn from the UFC Fight Night 262 main event, and Reinier de Ridder has a new opponent.
With Hernandez out of the Oct. 18 headliner at Rogers Arena in Vancouver (ESPN+) for undisclosed reasons, Brendan Allen will step in and take on de Ridder in a five-round middleweight bout.
UFC officials announced the change Monday.
De Ridder (21-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) has quickly climbed the ladder in the middleweight division, winning his first three fights by stoppage and picking up a split decision nod over former champ Robert Whittaker in his last outing. The main event result against Whittaker extended his winning streak to five.
Allen (25-7 MMA, 13-4 UFC) will look to take advantage of the short-notice opportunity and get himself back to the upper tier of the 185-pound division. He defeated Marvin Vettori at UFC 318 to snap a two-fight losing skid against Hernandez and Nassourdine Imavov.
Not long after the news was announced, “Fluffy” issued an apology on Instagram. He didn’t specify the nature of his injury.
The latest UFC Fight Night 262 lineup now includes:
- Reinier de Ridder vs. Brendan Allen
- Cody Gibson vs. Aori Qileng
- Kevin Holland vs. Mike Malott
- Marlon Vera vs. Aiemann Zahabi
- Manon Fiorot vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
- Davey Grant vs. Charles Jourdain
- Drew Dober vs. Kyle Prepolec
- HyunSung Park vs. Bruno Silva
- Danny Barlow vs. Djorden Santos
- Stephanie Luciano vs. Ravena Oliveira
- Azamat Bekoev vs. Yousri Belgaroui
- Matt Frevola vs. Kyle Nelson
