Anthony Hernandez has withdrawn from his scheduled UFC Vancouver fight against Reinier de Ridder due to injury, missing a chance to compete for a middleweight title eliminator. Hernandez shared an apologetic statement on Instagram, expressing regret to the UFC, de Ridder, and fans, while thanking Brendan Allen—whom he has previously defeated twice—for stepping in as his replacement.
“Right now, my focus is on getting healthy so I can come back stronger than ever. When I return, I’ll be ready to make a statement,” Hernandez wrote. De Ridder’s team responded wishing him a speedy recovery. The fight swap alters the main event dynamics, with Allen now facing de Ridder, while fan anticipation remains high for the eventual title challenger at 185 pounds.
