Brett OkamotoAug 20, 2025, 01:17 AM
CloseBrett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: “Chuck and Tito,” which looked back at 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.
The UFC’s middleweight division will continue to take shape on Oct. 18, when Reinier de Ridder and Anthony Hernandez headline UFC Fight Night in Vancouver.
UFC CEO Dana White announced the matchup on Tuesday, just three days after Khamzat Chimaev claimed the middleweight belt over Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 in Chicago.
De Ridder (21-2), of the Netherlands, has already had a spectacular 2025. He is 3-0 this year, defeating fan favorite Kevin Holland, super prospect Bo Nickal and former champion Robert Whittaker. Going back to July 2024, de Ridder, 34, is 5-0 with four finishes.
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Hernandez (15-2) has been equally as impressive, with an eight-fight winning streak. Hernandez, nicknamed “Fluffy,” is coming off a performance bonus-worthy showing against Roman Dolidze on Aug. 9.
De Ridder and Hernandez are the Nos. 5 and 6-ranked middleweights, respectively. The middleweight division will be on full display in the coming months, as No. 2-ranked Nassourdine Imavov will face No. 7-ranked Caio Borralho on Sept. 6.
In addition to the main event, White announced a bantamweight fight between Marlon Vera and Aiemann Zahabi, a middleweight matchup between Holland and Mike Mallott and a women’s flyweight bout between Manon Fiorot and Jasmine Jasudavicius for the Vancouver event.