Brendan Allen has never shown an interest in training with fellow UFC fighter Reinier de Ridder, and his reasons delve deeper than mere rivalry. As the anticipation builds for their main event showdown at UFC Vancouver this Saturday, de Ridder revealed that he had previously approached Allen about training together after joining Kill Cliff FC in Florida. However, Allen declined the offer, citing issues beyond just his feelings towards de Ridder.
Allen expressed his discontent regarding the manner in which the situation was handled by the coaching staff at Kill Cliff FC. “To be honest, I got asked for every middleweight that wanted to come to our gym,” Allen stated during an interview with MMA Fighting. He noted that when Nassourdine Imavov came to train, he was consulted first, which he appreciated. In contrast, Allen felt slighted because he was never asked about de Ridder’s arrival. “Never was asked nothing for de Ridder. Never. I was like alright f*ck me? Well f*ck you, too,” he expressed, clarifying that his frustration was directed more at the team than at de Ridder himself.
Allen also highlighted his existing relationships with other fighters in the middleweight division, stating, “For me, I have enough friends in this division.” He has a clear boundary when it comes to fighting friends and emphasized, “If they say my name, then we’re going to get it.” This perspective reinforced his stance of maintaining distance from de Ridder, asserting, “I’m not your friend, don’t want to be your friend.”
Allen was dissatisfied with how Kill Cliff FC managed the arrival of de Ridder, describing it as a frustrating experience. “Yeah, it did bother me but to be honest when you’ve been around the game a long enough time, you kind of expect certain things from certain people,” he explained. He acknowledged that in the world of mixed martial arts, personal relationships often take a backseat to business decisions. “It’s business. I just try to keep it as that,” he remarked.
Following de Ridder's entrance into the gym, Allen felt a shift in his relationships with coaches and fighters. Eventually, he decided to seek a new training environment. Prior to his victory over Marvin Vettori in July, Allen recognized the need for a fresh start, which led him to Chicago to train with former UFC champion Belal Muhammad. “I’m loyal to my friends, especially the ones I’m close with,” Allen stated, reflecting on his commitment to his network.
As for the upcoming fight against de Ridder, Allen is more than ready to step into the octagon. He had been eyeing this potential matchup for quite some time, and now it’s his opportunity to showcase his skills. “He’s nothing impressive,” Allen stated bluntly. “It’s nothing like where you see a guy and you’re like that guy’s talented or he’s got something, whatever that ‘it’ is. I don’t see none of that from him.”
With the stage set for their showdown at UFC Vancouver, all eyes will be on Allen and de Ridder as they settle their differences inside the cage.
