After logging his fourth consecutive submission victory to cap a busy 2023 schedule at Paul Craig’s expense, #8 ranked middleweight contender Brendan Allen has a golden opportunity to do what he has publicly stated is his destiny: showcase his championship credentials against a one-time title challenger and catapult himself into the top-5 rankings at 185lbs in three months’ time.
Ask and you shall receive, eventually
It feels like just yesterday, Brendan Allen declared himself a future UFC champion in waiting and after scoring a fourth straight finish in his maiden main event slot, now has the perfect chance to prove it and start 2024 in style against Marvin Vettori on April 6, a week before the promotion’s heavily-anticipated UFC 300 card.
You can be sure the 28-year-old would’ve wanted to feature on the following weekend’s PPV card at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, though has become accustomed to life at the UFC Apex – four of his last six appearances over the past 22 months have been there, and that’s where he kicked off his existing six-fight win streak.
Unhappy with how he ended 2021 with a second-round TKO defeat by Chris Curtis, he submitted Sam Alvey at light-heavyweight before returning to his natural 185lb frame four months later for a Singapore showdown with agemate Jacob Malkoun.
There, he went 15 minutes (UD3, 29-28 x 3) with a durable Australian that notably trains alongside former divisional champion Robert Whittaker and you could gradually feel the opposition step-up was increasing.
Since then, it’s been finish after finish for All In and that ever-present submission threat has helped his stock rise in an entertainment business bloodthirsty for stoppages of any kind, whether that be stringing together beautiful boxing combinations or slick set-ups to render your opponent defenceless.
He’s now tied with former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira for the third-longest submission streak in promotional history (4) and third-most rear-naked choke victories (6), an impressive achievement he’ll look to build upon against Vettori – who has never been stopped in his career.
The perennial contender has lost three of his last five and looked most likely of dropping that admirable-if-ominous distinction against Whittaker coincidentally enough in Paris, but the stubborn Italian’s chin and survival instincts have previously kept him walking forward almost like a zombie during one-sided defeats.
After a seven-year coaching spell at Kings MMA, he ventured to Xtreme Couture in 2023 where reigning divisional champion Sean Strickland calls home, and you wouldn’t be surprised to know the heavy underdog’s stunning decision win over Israel Adesanya inspired one particular man who twice couldn’t get the job done.
Back in October, he told MMA Junkie: “Sean is a crazy fucker, but I’m also. We get along and I talk a lot of shit to him sometimes. Before, I could just say, ‘Shut the fuck up because you’re crazy.’ But now he’s the champion, so he has a point… I kind of have to be like, ‘Shit, I can’t really tell you to shut up because you made it happen, kind of have to respect what you’re saying.’
Hats off to him. At the end of the day, obviously I want to be in his spot but at the same time, we grinded, trained for so long.
I’ve known him for seven, eight years, so we trained, had endless rounds and it’s always good to see somebody next to you becoming champion – just shows you it’s doable – he did it, even though he’s crazy. He made it happen, so everything is possible. I’m happy for him – one day I’ll take that spot for sure.”
Rewind: UFC Vegas 82 full results
Main card
Middleweight: Brendan Allen bt. Paul Craig via R3 submission (rear-naked choke)
Welterweight: Michael Morales bt. Jake Matthews via UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Lightweight: Chase Hooper bt. Jordan Leavitt via R1 submission (rear-naked choke)
Bantamweight: Payton Talbott bt. Nick Aguirre via R3 sub (rear-naked choke)
Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Ribas bt. Luana Pinheiro via R3 TKO (spinning wheel kick, punches)
Welterweight: Myktybek Orolbai bt. Uros Medic via R2 sub (neck crank)
Prelims
Featherweight: Joanderson Brito bt. Jonathan Pearce via R2 submission (ninja choke)
Bantamweight: Jose Johnson bt. Chad Anheliger via R3 sub (rear-naked choke)
Middleweight: Christian Leroy Duncan bt. Denis Tiuliulin via R2 TKO (punches, elbows)
Heavyweight: Mick Parkin bt. Caio Machado via UD (29-28 x 3)
Catchweight (148lbs): Jeka Saragih bt. Lucas Alexander via R1 KO (punches)
Women’s Bantamweight: Ailin Perez bt. Lucie Pudilova via UD (29-27, 29-28 x 2)
Lightweight: Trey Ogden vs. Nikolas Motta originally ruled a R3 sub win for Ogden; overturned to a No Contest (premature stoppage)
Catchweight (128lbs): Rafael Estevam bt. Charles Johnson via UD (29-28 x 3)
Picture source: Getty Images
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