The main event of UFC Vancouver on 18 October will pit Reinier de Ridder against Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez, potentially offering a clue to Khamzat Chimaev ’s first challenger for the middleweight title.

Newly crowned UFC middleweight champion Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) went after de Ridder (20-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) on Tuesday with posts on X directed at the contender, just days after beating Dricus Du Plessis in an all-time dominant title fight at UFC 319.

Getty/UFC Arman Tsarukyan advised Khamzat Chimaev against striking at UFC 319. Chimaev challenged Dricus Du Plessis for the middleweight title in the main event at UFC 319 last weekend in Chicago. Tsarukyan was a part of Chimaev's camp under head coach Sam Calavitta and also served as his cornerman.

Now that Khamzat Chimaev is the new UFC middleweight champion, there’s plenty of 185 pounders looking to step into the cage for his first title defense. With the UFC teasing a potential fast turnaround in Abu Dhabi on October 25th,

The coach of Makhachev and Khabib is not the only prominent name defending Chimaev’s approach in the aftermath of UFC 319.