Reinier de Ridder to Face Anthony Hernandez in UFC Vancouver Main Event

The UFC has officially booked a high-stakes middleweight clash for its upcoming Vancouver card, with Reinier de Ridder set to meet Anthony Hernandez in the headliner on October 18.

UFC president Dana White confirmed the matchup on Tuesday, adding that the winner of the bout—alongside the victor of Caio Borralho vs. Nassourdine Imavov—will emerge as the frontrunner for the next middleweight title shot.

De Ridder, a former two-division champion in ONE Championship, has made an emphatic transition to the UFC.

Since debuting in November, the Dutch standout has gone 4-0, earning submission victories over Gerald Meerschaert and Kevin Holland, a TKO win against Bo Nickal, and a split-decision triumph over ex-champion Robert Whittaker.

Hernandez, meanwhile, rides an eight-fight win streak and boasts a 9-2 record inside the UFC.

The Californian last fought just weeks ago at UFC Vegas 109, where he dominated Roman Dolidze before securing a fourth-round submission.

The Vancouver co-main event will feature a pivotal bantamweight contest as former title challenger Marlon “Chito” Vera meets Aiemann Zahabi.

Vera enters the bout looking to rebound from consecutive losses, most recently falling to Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Abu Dhabi.

Zahabi, on the other hand, has surged with six straight wins, including a high-profile featherweight victory over former champion Jose Aldo at UFC 315—a fight that prompted Aldo’s second retirement from the sport.

Also on the card, Kevin Holland returns against Canadian welterweight Mike Malott.

Holland, 3-3 in his last six outings, dropped a decision to Daniel Rodriguez in a short-notice brawl at UFC 318.

Malott, carrying a 12-2-1 record, has impressed with a 5-1 UFC run since his debut on Dana White’s Contender Series.

He most recently delivered a knockout against Charles Radtke at UFC 315.

The card will also feature a throwdown in the women’s flyweight division.

Manon Fiorot will take on Jasmine Jasudavicius.

Fiorot unsuccessfully challenged Valentina Shevchenko for the women’s flyweight title at UFC 315 — a fight that snapped a 7-0 unbeaten run in the UFC and a 12-fight winning streak she had carried since dropping her pro MMA debut.

Jasudavicius, meanwhile, has won five of her last six and seven of eight overall, most recently submitting Jessica Andrade on the same UFC 315 card.