The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Special: Daniel Cormier TV - DC REACTS to Brendan Allen TKO win vs. Reinier de Ridder, Holland-Malott
Release Date: October 21, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into UFC Vancouver’s unpredictable night, with Daniel Cormier (“DC”) at ringside reacting to key bouts. The main focus is Brendan Allen’s dominant TKO win over Reinier de Ridder, with further analysis of bizarre and controversial moments in the Kevin Holland vs. Mike Malott fight, standout performances elsewhere on the card, and Cormier’s raw, passionate takeaways on the athletes’ mental and physical journeys.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Brendan Allen’s Career-Defining Win Over Reinier de Ridder

• Brendan Allen’s Dominance:
  DC expresses surprise at Allen's ability to dismantle a formidable, multi-division champion like de Ridder.
  • “I know Brendan Allen is a phenomenal fighter and I know that he's special in so many ways. What I did not expect was for him to do what he did to Reinier de Ridder.” (04:23)
• Fight Recap:
  • Allen started aggressively, faced early grappling control from de Ridder, but turned the tide decisively from round two onward.
  • “From round two on, it was all Brendan Allen. This guy weighed 222 pounds a month ago... Not only did he fight Rainier deridder, he got the job done in impressive fashion.” (05:34)
• Allen’s Turnaround:
  • DC highlights Allen’s struggles the previous year—losses to Imavov and Fluffy Hernandez—emphasizing his mental toughness to rebound and now stand on the brink of a title shot.
  • “It takes a very big man to overcome those thoughts mentally, physically, and where he was in his career 12 months ago to where he is today.” (06:20)
• Allen’s Callouts:
  • After his win, Allen called for fights against current champion Khamzat Chimaev, former champion Dricus Du Plessis, or a rematch with Sean Strickland.
  • “Taking advantage of your opportunity. He did that in the Octagon tonight and... having all those names ready for him...” (06:50)

De Ridder’s Strategy & Coaching Intervention

• Mistakes and Corner Stoppage:
  • DC notes de Ridder repeatedly tried to impose his jiu-jitsu but kept getting reversed and out-fought, leading to multiple poor decisions.
  • “It was very surprising that he kept taking him down and kept getting reversed and kept playing jiu jitsu. I mean, it's exactly what cost him…” (07:29)
  • Praises the corner for stopping the fight:
    “His corner did him a favor, a solid, by saying, hey, we'll give you the opportunity to live another day and fight another day.” (07:48)

Kevin Holland vs. Mike Malott: A Bizarre Battle

• Controversy and Officiating Issues:
  • DC calls it “one of the weirdest fights I have ever seen” (08:03), describing Holland’s repeated low blows and uncertainty about continuing.
  • Criticizes the confusion with referee Dan Miragliotta, who earlier had a tough call in the Drew Dober vs. Kyle Preplett fight:
    • “He didn't necessarily want to make a decision. So we had all this time passing between Kevin Holland getting hit low to Kevin Holland using all the injury time...” (08:27)
• Holland’s Grit:
  • Despite everything, Holland continues to a decision loss. DC acknowledges Holland’s toughness but underlines the overall messiness of the situation.

Other Notable Fights & Performances

• Aiemann Zahabi’s Streak:
  • “Aiemann Zahabi has now won seven fights in a row, and tonight he beat Cheeto Vera. It's time to start really considering him for one of the main players in this weight class.” (09:19)
• Manon Fiorot’s Show-Stopping KO:
  • “My Mano Fiorot showed once again why she's one of the best fighters in the world... she gets one of her greatest knockouts of all time.” (09:31)
• Charles Jourdain’s Finishing Talent:
  • “Charles Jourdain, flying knee to a guillotine. Two fights at 135, two finishes, both by guillotine. Charles Jourdain is a real problem...” (09:44)

Refereeing & Officiating Drama

• Kyle Nelson vs. Matt Frevola:
  • The fight was stopped, then restarted, leading to confusion even among fighters and officials.
  • “Justin Gaethje messages me, ‘What a shit show when that happens.’ I just don't know what happened.” (10:05)
• Drew Dober vs. Kyle Preplett:
  • Low-blow and point deduction drama left “a bad taste in my mouth.” (10:38)

Bonuses & Highlights

• Performance of the Night:
  • DC awards his “Total Wireless Performance of the Night” to Charles Jourdain for “that beautiful flying knee and that submission.”
  • “Look, guys, it's easy to give it to Brendan Allen... but my performance of the night goes to Charles Jourdain.” (11:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Allen’s Evolution:

  “It takes a very big man to overcome those thoughts mentally, physically, and where he was in his career 12 months ago to where he is today.” — Daniel Cormier (06:20)

• On the Coaching Stoppage:

  “His corner did him a favor, a solid, by saying, hey, we'll give you the opportunity to live another day and fight another day.” — Daniel Cormier (07:48)

• On Officiating Chaos:

  “Justin Gaethje messages me, ‘What a shit show when that happens.’ I just don't know what happened.” — Daniel Cormier (10:05)

• On Holland-Malott Oddity:

  “That was a weird one, man... It was so weird. I mean, this whole night was weird.” — Daniel Cormier (08:52)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:02] — Main show starts: Immediate post-fight reactions
• [05:34] — Brendan Allen’s rapid rise, weight cut and dominance
• [06:20] — Allen’s mental journey and comeback story
• [06:50] — Allen’s post-fight callouts
• [07:29] — De Ridder’s strategic missteps, corner stoppage
• [08:03] — Kevin Holland vs. Mike Malott’s bizarre events
• [09:19] — Aiemann Zahabi’s win streak and legitimacy
• [09:31] — Manon Fiorot's knockout
• [09:44] — Charles Jourdain's back-to-back guillotine finishes
• [10:05] — Officiating blunders: Nelson-Frevola
• [10:38] — More officiating disputes: Dober-Preplett
• [11:26] — Total Wireless Performance of the Night: Charles Jourdain

Tone & Style

Cormier speaks casually, candidly, and with infectious enthusiasm, often directly addressing fans and peppering in personal anecdotes. The recaps are fast-paced, emotionally invested, and unfiltered—reflecting both his expert analysis and his empathy for fighters’ struggles.

Conclusion

This episode stands out for its up-close, authentic reactions to a wild UFC card—highlighting breakthrough performances, chaotic in-cage moments, and the mental resilience required at the sport’s highest level. Daniel Cormier’s commentary is both sharp and heartfelt, making this recap indispensable for any fan who missed the night’s action.