Overview
- Allen stepped in on short notice after Anthony Hernandez withdrew and seized control with relentless top pressure after dropping the opening round.
- De Ridder’s corner threw in the towel between Rounds 4 and 5 following three frames of sustained damage, awarding Allen a TKO via retirement.
- Ozkan issued a public statement taking full responsibility for the stoppage, calling it the right decision to prevent unnecessary damage.
- De Ridder later posted on X that he battled norovirus during fight week and broke his hand in Round 1, claims that have not been independently verified.
- Analysts, including Daniel Cormier, lauded Allen’s dominant showing and suggested the victory moves him into the Top 5 and within one win of a title shot, with no next bouts announced.