Riding a five-fight win streak, #10 ranked middleweight Brendan Allen faces Paul Craig in Saturday’s main event and the 27-year-old believes his second headline slot in nine months shows the promotion’s faith in him as someone with championship potential. Paul Craig is no slouch and testing himself at a lower weight than his 205lb days, so this represents a fitting matchup.
Allen aware what’s at stake, as he should be
- Brendan Allen looks to defend his top-10 ranking against Paul Craig [13], who surprised many with his middleweight debut against Andre Muniz in July and fancies himself for a championship run too in a weight division where Israel Adesanya’s absence has opened up possibilities aplenty
- Jack Hermansson [9], Khamzat Chimaev [8] and Paulo Costa [6] are all sidelined with respective injuries but Allen sees himself as the heir apparent at 185lbs and must maintain that winning trajectory Saturday
- Craig looking to take fresh challenges down a weight class from light-heavy with both hands as he welcomes high stakes: “It’s now about resetting new goals and getting to that title. I know it’s close, I’m in the mix, been given an opportunity, but can’t look past your opponent.”
Two years is a long time. December will mark 24 months since Brendan Allen’s last defeat, a second-round TKO by Chris Curtis on the Jose Aldo vs. Rob Font card.
He’s reeled off five victories – four by submission inside the distance – since then and built up momentum with a steady step-up in opposition quality.
Long-time promotional middleweight Sam Alvey was the first, just two months after his stoppage defeat, kickstarting a run including performance bonuses against Krzysztof Jotko and ending Andre Muniz’s unbeaten streak in his maiden main event.
“I think they realise I will be champion eventually, I’m 27 and still got plenty of time to go. So I think they realised and we’re just taking the proper steps toward that,” he told assembled media during Wednesday’s media day.
“I’m definitely looking to knock him out, obviously that’s the easier road to travel in my eyes. I’m expecting him to come out and be better than he was before, but I’m not scared to go to ground with any man on this planet, especially at 185 – I know how good I am.”
Allen openly expressed his eagerness to find a knockout finish but while both are established grapplers – Craig moreso – the younger man warned Bearjew after Friday’s intense staredown after weigh-ins, not to pull guard early in their contest.
It might not be the most aesthetically pleasing tactic to watch but if that’s his best way to win, why not? Craig scored a second-round TKO win (elbows) over Muniz in late July to seize his top-15 ranking at 185lbs but has previously been criticised for messy tendencies and defensive mistakes as far as his stand-up skills are concerned.
The 35-year-old’s response to said questions over his striking developments was predictably bullish. Can he use those doubts as fuel to exceed expectations on the feet before displaying his trademark submission skills over five rounds?
“When fighters give you any criticism, you obviously want to show them they’re wrong… but until you’ve had any of the smoke, you just sit there regardless of the fighter. If you catch these hands, you’ll know how good the striking is.”
Will he pull off another upset win like he did four months ago, or does Allen ultimately prove too much across all areas in a showcase opportunity here?
Full card is as follows
Main card
Middleweight: Brendan Allen [10] vs. Paul Craig [13]
Welterweight: Michael Morales vs. Jake Matthews
Lightweight: Chase Hooper vs. Jordan Leavitt
Bantamweight: Payton Talbott vs. Nick Aguirre
Women’s Strawweight: Luana Pinheiro [9] vs. Amanda Ribas [11]
Welterweight: Uros Medic vs. Myktybek Orolbai Uulu
Prelims
Featherweight: Jonathan Pearce vs. Joanderson Brito
Bantamweight: Chad Anheliger vs. Jose Johnson
Middleweight: Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Denis Tiuliulin
Heavyweight: Mick Parkin vs. Caio Machado
Catchweight (148lbs): Jeka Saragih vs. Lucas Alexander
Women’s Bantamweight: Lucie Pudilova vs. Ailin Perez
Lightweight: Trey Ogden vs. Nikolas Motta
Catchweight (128lbs): Charles Johnson vs. Rafael Estevam
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes hyperlinked
Mo and Sports 