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Tag: Brendan Allen

  • “Put Some Respect…” – Brendan Allen Batters Edmen Shahabzyan

    “Put Some Respect…” – Brendan Allen Batters Edmen Shahabzyan

    Though taking a fight against an unranked fighter was a risk, Brendan Allen delivered a statement victory over Edmen Shahbazyan in the UFC Vegas 118 co-main event, solidifying his status in the UFC middleweight title picture.

    Allen got off to a strong start, controlling things with his striking. He continued to try to pressure, but Shahbazyan ensured Allen couldn’t get a takedown. The “Golden Boy” then scored multiple strong shots in the closing stages of round one.

    The two continued to trade in the second, but Allen’s power picked up, landing some harsh blows that did damage to Shahbazyan. That story remained in the third, as Allen’s punching power left Shahbazyan a bloody mess.

    Allen ultimately came away with the decision win, dropping just one round on one judge’s scorecard and sweeping on the other two.

    Brendan Allen Beats, Bloodies Edmen Shahabzyan At UFC Vegas 118

    Allen has now won three straight and 10 of his last 12 fights. He came into this bout off a short-notice victory over Reinier de Ridder in the UFC Vancouver main event this past October.

    Shahbazyan sees a three-fight win streak snapped with this defeat.

  • Brendan Allen Shares Opinion On Khamzat Chimaev Rematch Debate That Makes A Lot Of Sense

    Brendan Allen Shares Opinion On Khamzat Chimaev Rematch Debate That Makes A Lot Of Sense

    Brendan Allen says the UFC middleweight division is in an uncertain position following Sean Strickland’s upset title win over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328, with the rematch vs. contender question still unresolved.

    Allen, who trained alongside Chimaev during part of his camp, believes Chimaev deserves a rematch but acknowledged Nassourdine Imavov has also earned his shot. Speaking to MMA Junkie Radio ahead of his own fight against Edmen Shahbazyan at UFC Fight Night 278 on June 6, Allen laid out how he sees it.

    “I think we’re in a crazy position and everyone’s just waiting for the bosses to say what avenue they’re going to go. I’m kind of caught. I think Khamzat deserves a rematch. It was a super close fight based on statistics. I had him winning, but I could also be biased. It was obviously still a close fight because it was a split decision. I would say he should get a rematch, but I also think Nassourdine has earned No. 1 contender. It’s a super tough spot. If it was me, and it’s way above my pay grade, but I think you give Khamzat the rematch, depending on timeline. I think Khamzat is already ready. It’s just up to Sean at this point. Then you make Nassourdine me vs. if I win.”

    Allen made clear that none of it matters unless he handles his own business first.

    “I think I can get him out of there. He’s a good fighter. He’s a young, talented guy and I’ve just got to go in there and do what I need to do and get him out of there. He’s getting a crack at the top five. He’s not even in the top 15, and he’s getting a crack at the top five. That’s super motivating. I never personally had that, but I know it’s got to be super motivating. So I know he’s coming to kill. I’m ready for that. I think I’m the best in the world and I need to go prove it.”

  • Sean Strickland Unloads on Brendan Allen After he Reveals Camp’s Reaction to Pre-Fight Trash Talk

    Sean Strickland Unloads on Brendan Allen After he Reveals Camp’s Reaction to Pre-Fight Trash Talk

    Brendan Allen spent three weeks in Khamzat Chimaev’s training camp ahead of UFC 328 and offered a window into how the champion’s team is processing Sean Strickland’s ongoing campaign of verbal aggression. Strickland responded to what Allen said with a fury of his own.

    Speaking on Submission Radio, Allen described the general atmosphere in Chimaev’s camp as Strickland’s latest comments filtered in.

    “We just laugh. He just sounds so rtarded. All he wants to do is get an emotional reaction out of people and it’s just like, alright bro, y’all are going to fight on Saturday, see if you’re talking all that sht then because you wasn’t talking that sh*t when y’all trained.”

    Allen also revealed what the coaches told everyone around Chimaev about handling fight week.

    “I think it was more of trying to get through to the team, like it’s all talk. If you care about Khamzat, stay in your lane, don’t mess up this opportunity for Khamzat to go out there and handle it. Let Khamzat handle it. He signed the contract, Sean signed the contract, they’re going to fight, let him talk, let him do whatever he wants to do, let his antics do what it’s going to do, just walk away. Just laugh, walk away. If someone puts their hands on you that’s a different situation, but if it’s just talk, just let him talk. At the end of the day, Khamzat has 25 minutes to be in there with him and he’s going to do his best to make him feel it.”

    He also questioned whether Strickland would actually back up his more extreme statements. “Talk is talk. Sean’s that kind of guy. I’d kill him in a press conference, though. I’d make him freak out for sure.”

    Strickland was asked about Allen’s comments at a media scrum and delivered a pointed response that took aim at Allen’s ranking and his decision to train with the champion.

    “Brendan Allen, you are the definition of a cnt. You are ranked 5. My boy Edmen’s about to beat you. You are ranked No. 5, you were talking about a title fight and you go and you train with the current champion and the whole world just watched him fck you up over and over and over again. All we know of your training camp is you’re getting your ass kicked by fcking Chimaev. You will never fight for a belt. If you want to get some advice from me, stop training with the champion and if you’re going to train with him, don’t let him beat the fck out of you for f*cking weeks at a time.”

    Allen and Strickland previously fought at a UFC APEX event in November 2020, with Strickland winning by second-round knockout. Allen now faces Edmen Shahbazyan at UFC Vegas 118 on June 6. UFC 328 takes place Saturday, May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

  • Brendan Allen Says The Ending of His Reinier de Ridder Bout Was Just “Weird”

    Brendan Allen Says The Ending of His Reinier de Ridder Bout Was Just “Weird”

    UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen has given his thoughts on the conclusion of his UFC Vancouver main event against Reinier de Ridder.

    Heading into his short notice showdown with Reinier de Ridder, Brendan Allen was considered to be a fairly big underdog. In the end, though, not only did he win, but he also forced RDR to quit on the stool between rounds.

    While it was a huge moment for Brendan Allen, more fans focused on the fact that de Ridder fell short when he was so close to securing a UFC middleweight title shot. Either way, Allen marches forward in the middleweight division, whereas RDR needs to go back to the drawing board.

    In a recent interview, Allen spoke openly about the moments leading up to the stoppage and how he felt about it in the immediate aftermath.

    Brendan Allen discusses ending of Reinier de Ridder fight

    “I said I would break him going into the fight, and I’ve broke guys before they just kind of like, just let things kind of happen, but never have I went with someone that they didn’t answer the bell. So, yeah, man. It’s very weird.”

    “I was listening to my corner still when I saw his like, like out of my peripheral. I saw his corner uh you know like wave it off and then I saw him throw the towel. By the time they threw the towel I knew it was, it was over. So I was shocked but I also kind of expected in that moment because leading up to that moment my corner was like look he can’t even get off the ground like he’s still sitting there. Uh, so I kind of expected it.”

  • “This Bull**** Guy Give Up” – Khamzat Chimaev, Nassourdine Imavov, Marvin Vettori, And Other Fighters & Fans React To Brendan Allen Forcing Towel Throw In To Defeat Reinier De Ridder At UFC Vancouver

    “This Bull**** Guy Give Up” – Khamzat Chimaev, Nassourdine Imavov, Marvin Vettori, And Other Fighters & Fans React To Brendan Allen Forcing Towel Throw In To Defeat Reinier De Ridder At UFC Vancouver

    Despite taking this fight on short notice after an injury to Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez, Brendan Allen lived up to his promise to break Reinier De Ridder, forcing the corner of the two-division ONE champion to throw in the towel after four rounds to give him the win in the main event of UFC Vancouver.

    De Ridder looked to use his size early, quickly locking up Allen in a clinch battle seconds into the bout. RDR managed to land a takedown about a minute later, with de Ridder searching for an arm-triangle choke. When Allen defended that, de Ridder looked to transition to the back. RDR worked the rest of the first from the back, landing punches and searching for the rear-naked choke and a late armbar attempt.

    Allen looked to apply striking pressure to start the second round, but RDR quickly pinned him against the fence and scored a takedown. Halfway through the round, however, Allen managed to reverse the position, doing well with his striking from up top. De Ridder quickly brought the fight back to the ground in the third, getting right into top control on the back. Allen, however, again managed to reverse to top position, and by the end of the round, RDR appeared to be struggling to just get to his stool.

    Allen scored a takedown to start the fourth, though De Ridder tried to score a choke from the bottom. Allen’s relenting pressure was too much, and referee Jason Herzog warned RDR after the round he needed to get to his corner or risk losing the fight. In the corner, the cornermen of a spent RDR threw in the towel, giving Allen the TKO win.

    Brendan Allen Stops Reinier De Ridder At UFC Vancouver

    https://twitter.com/xJahstin/status/1979729078258401423
    https://twitter.com/xJahstin/status/1979732079593283841

    Allen has now won two straight and nine of 11, entering tonight off a unanimous decision win over Marvin Vettori at UFC 318.

    RDR was 4-0 in the UFC entering tonight, scoring finishes of Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and Bo Nickal before a win over Robert Whittaker at UFC Abu Dhabi. This was his first loss since dropping the ONE middleweight title in March 2024.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Brendan Allen TKO’s Reinier de Ridder

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Brendan Allen TKO’s Reinier de Ridder

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    In the main event, former two-division ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder took on Brendan Allen in a middleweight bout. In the co-main event, Kevin Holland faced off with Mike Malott in a welterweight matchup.

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Middleweight bout: Brendan Allen def. Reinier de Ridder via TKO: R4, 5.00
    • Welterweight bout: Mike Malott def. Kevin Holland via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Bantamweight bout: Aiemann Zahabi def. Marlon Vera via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Women’s flyweight bout: Manon Fiorot def. Jasmine Jasudavicius via TKO: R1, 1.14
    • Bantamweight bout: Charles Jourdain def. Davey Grant via submission: R1, 3.05
    • Lightweight bout: Kyle Nelson def. Matt Frevola via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)

    Preliminary Card

    • Women’s bantamweight bout: Melissa Croden def. Tainara Lisboa via TKO: R3, 4.32
    • Lightweight bout: Drew Dober def. Kyle Prepolec via TKO: R3, 1.16
    • Bantamweight bout: Aori Qileng def. Cody Gibson via KO: R1, 0.21
    • Flyweight bout: Bruno Silva def. HyunSung Park via submission: R3, 2.15
    • Middleweight bout: Djorden Santos def. Danny Barlow via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Women’s strawweight bout: Stephanie Luciano def. Ravena Oliveira via submission: R3, 2.50
    • Middleweight bout: Yousri Belgaroui def. Azamat Bekoev via TKO: R3, 0.55

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Melissa Croden def. Tainara Lisboa

    Yousri Belgaroui def. Azamat Bekoev

    Stephanie Luciano def. Ravena Oliveira

    Bruno Silva def. HyunSung Park

    Aori Qileng def. Cody Gibson

    Drew Dober def. Kyle Prepolec

    Main Card Highlights

    Kyle Nelson def. Matt Frevola

    Kyle Nelson got it done on the scorecards.

    Charles Jourdain def. Davey Grant

    In this bantamweight bout, Charles Jourdain submitted Davey Grant with a guillotine choke in round one.

    Manon Fiorot def. Jasmine Jasudavicius

    Manon Fiorot eared a first round TKO.

    Aiemann Zahabi def. Marlon Vera

    Aiemann Zahabi earned a split decision win.

    Mike Malott def. Kevin Holland

    In the main event, Mike Malott earned a unanimous decision win.

    Brendan Allen def. Reinier de Ridder

    In the main event, Brendan Allen earned a TKO a the end of round four after Reinier de Ridder couldn’t continue.

  • UFC Vancouver Betting Odds: Current Favorites For De Ridder vs. Allen And More

    UFC Vancouver Betting Odds: Current Favorites For De Ridder vs. Allen And More

    UFC Vancouver is almost here, and we here at MMA News are here to provide you the latest on betting odds for the card.

    The card takes place from the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Saturday, October 18. The main card portion of the event will start at 7PM ET/4PM PT, with preliminary action starting at 4PM ET/1PM PT.

    The main event will see a middleweight title eliminator featuring Reinier de Ridder and Brendan Allen.

    The co-main event will see welterweight action as Kevin Holland faces Mike Malott.

    The main card will also feature Marlon “Chito” Vera facing Aiemann Zahabi, Manon Fiorot fighting Jasmine Jasudavicius, Cody Gibson taking on Aori Qileng, and Kyle Nelson in action against Matt Frevola.

    UFC Vancouver: De Ridder vs. Allen Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Vancouver as of October 17 at 9:15 pm ET, courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight: Reinier de Ridder (-198) vs Brendan Allen (+164)
    • Welterweight: Kevin Holland (-105) vs Mike Malott (-115)
    • Bantamweight: Marlon Vera (+110) vs Aiemann Zahabi (-130)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Manon Fiorot (-230) vs Jasmine Jasudavicius (+190)
    • Bantamweight: Cody Gibson (-185) vs Aoriqileng (+154)
    • Lightweight: Kyle Nelson (+102) vs Matt Frevola (-122)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Bantamweight: Charles Jourdain (-180) vs Davey Grant (+150)
    • Flyweight: Bruno Silva (+200) vs HyunSung Park (-245)
    • Middleweight: Danny Barlow (-278) vs Djorden Santos (+225)
    • Lightweight: Kyle Prepolec (+300) vs Drew Dober (-380)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Stephanie Luciano (-298) vs Ravena Oliveira (+240)
    • Middleweight: Azamat Bekoev (-298) vs Yousri Belgaroui (+240)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Melissa Croden (-130) vs Tainara Lisboa (+110)
  • Watch Reinier de Ridder, Brendan Allen Face Off At UFC Vancouver Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    Watch Reinier de Ridder, Brendan Allen Face Off At UFC Vancouver Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    We’re a little less than 24 hours away from UFC Vancouver, and MMA News is here to bring you the video from the ceremonial weigh-ins for the card!

    UFC Vancouver takes place on October 18 from the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

    In the main event, a No. 1 contender to middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev could be determined when Reinier de Ridder faces off with Brendan Allen. De Ridder, the former two-division ONE champion, is 4-0 in the UFC with finishes of Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and Bo Nickal, as well as a split decision win over former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC Abu Dhabi this past July. Allen, who fills in for an injured Anthony Hernandez, enters off his decision win over Marvin Vettori at UFC 318.

    The co-main event will see the previously mentioned Holland in action against Mike Malott. Holland came up short against Daniel Rodriguez his last time out at UFC 318. Malott, meanwhile, knocked out Charles Radtke at UFC 315.

    The main card also features a noteworthy bantamweight bout between Marlon “Chito” Vera and Aiemann Zahabi, a key women’s strawweight contenders’ bout between Manon Fiorot and Jasmine Jasudavicius, a bantamweight battle between Cody Gibson and Aori Qileng, and a lightweight fight featuring Kyle Nelson and Matt Frevola.

    All fighters have made weight, and all fights are good to go!

    The ceremonial weigh-ins present the last opportunity for opponents to face off before they meet inside the Octagon. Check them out below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel!

  • UFC Vancouver: Reinier De Ridder vs. Brendan Allen Weigh-In Results

    UFC Vancouver: Reinier De Ridder vs. Brendan Allen Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Reinier de Ridder vs. Brendan Allen — UFC Vancouver — takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results.

    This will be the seventh time in history that the Octagon touches down in the most populated city of British Columbia, Canada. The last time the UFC was in the Rogers Arena saw Amanda Nunes defeat Irene Aldana at UFC 289 to retain the women’s bantamweight title before retiring.

    The main event of UFC Vancouver will be a pivotal middleweight title eliminator, as former two-division ONE champion Reinier de Ridder takes on Brendan Allen. Allen fills in for an injured Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez.

    De Ridder comes into this contest off a narrow decision victory over former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi this past July. He’s now 4-0 in the UFC following finishes of Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland and Bo Nickal.

    Allen enters this contest off a win over Marvin Vettori at UFC 318 that same month, a bout that earned that card’s Fight of the Night honors.

    The aforementioned Holland will be competing in the UFC Vancouver co-main event, taking on Mike Malott. Holland enters this bout off a loss to Daniel Rodriguez at UFC 318. Malott enters off a knockout of Charles Radtke at UFC 315 in May.

    The main card also features a noteworthy bantamweight bout between Marlon “Chito” Vera and Aiemann Zahabi, a key women’s strawweight contenders’ bout between Manon Fiorot and Jasmine Jasudavicius, a bantamweight battle between Cody Gibson and Aori Qileng, and a lightweight fight featuring Kyle Nelson and Matt Frevola.

    UFC Fight Night: De Ridder vs. Allen Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: De Ridder vs. Allen takes place on Saturday, October 18, at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The main card begins at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT.

    See below for the official results of the official UFC Vancouver weigh-ins. You can view the weigh-ins in the video player above.

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight: Reinier de Ridder (186) vs Brendan Allen (186)
    • Welterweight: Kevin Holland (170.5) vs Mike Malott (171)
    • Bantamweight: Marlon Vera (136) vs Aiemann Zahabi (135.5)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Manon Fiorot (125.5) vs Jasmine Jasudavicius (125.5)
    • Bantamweight: Cody Gibson (136) vs Aoriqileng (135.5)
    • Lightweight: Kyle Nelson (155.5) vs Matt Frevola (155)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Bantamweight: Charles Jourdain (135.5) vs Davey Grant (136)
    • Flyweight: Bruno Silva (125.5) vs HyunSung Park (126)
    • Middleweight: Danny Barlow (185.5) vs Djorden Santos (185.5)
    • Lightweight: Kyle Prepolec (155.5) vs Drew Dober (155.5)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Stephanie Luciano (116) vs Ravena Oliveira (115.5)
    • Middleweight: Azamat Bekoev (185) vs Yousri Belgaroui (185.5)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Melissa Croden (136) vs Tainara Lisboa (135.5)
  • Reinier de Ridder Reveals Secret Training Partner: Robbie Lawler

    Reinier de Ridder Reveals Secret Training Partner: Robbie Lawler

    Reinier de Ridder has an ace up his sleeve in the form of a UFC Hall of Famer.

    Since making his Octagon debut in November 2024, ‘RDR’ has taken the UFC by storm, securing four straight wins, including a highlight-reel finish of Bo Nickal and a gritty split decision victory over ex-titleholder Robert Whittaker. Now, the Dutchman is gearing up for another tough test when he takes on Brendan Allen in the UFC Vancouver main event on Saturday, October 18.

    Determined to leave no stone unturned, de Ridder revealed during a recent interview that his team has brought in former welterweight king Robbie Lawler to help hone his skills.

    “Robbie [Lawler] is a big part of it as well at the moment,” de Ridder told MMA Junkie. “It’s nice to have that inside–all the knowledge that Robbie has in training is very useful, it’s very helpful… Technique-wise, he’s really helped me a lot. I think maybe personality-wise we’re pretty similar.”

    Will Allen Capitalize on His Golden Opportunity Against Reinier de Ridder?

    Originally, ‘RDR’ was scheduled to fight Anthony Hernandez in the evening’s headliner, before ‘Fluffy’ bowed out due to an injury. Instead it’ll be Allen stepping into the spotlight to take on the former two-division ONE world champion.

    ‘All In’ is fresh off a big win over Marvin Vettori in July, snapping a two-fight losing skid and keeping him within earshot of the middleweight top 10. With a win over de Ridder in The Great White North, Allen could skyrocket himself all the way into the top five, putting him potentially one big win away from his own shot at UFC gold.

    Of course, de Ridder will do everything he can to prevent that from happening, and bringing in a legend like ‘Ruthless’ Robbie Lawler is a pretty good start.

  • Anthony Hernandez Out Of UFC Vancouver, Reinier De Ridder To Now Face Brendan Allen In Headliner

    Anthony Hernandez Out Of UFC Vancouver, Reinier De Ridder To Now Face Brendan Allen In Headliner

    An exciting battle that could have potentially determined the first challenger to middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is now off, as Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez has been forced out of UFC Vancouver due to injury.

    As a result, Reinier De Ridder will now face Brendan Allen in the main event of UFC Vancouver.

    The UFC confirmed the news in a social media post on Monday, September 15.

    Hernandez confirmed the news that evening with a statement on social media.

    UFC Vancouver To Now Be Headlined By Reinier De Ridder vs. Brendan Allen

    “I want to sincerely apologize to the UFC, to my opponent Reinier De Ridder, and to everyone who was looking forward to this matchup,” Hernandez said. “I also want to thank Brendan Allen for stepping up, it means a lot. To my fans, thank you for always tuning in, supporting me, and riding with me through everything. 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.”

    The fight was, and still is, pivotal for the middleweight title scene. Hernandez vs. De Ridder was previously mentioned alongside Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho as potential title eliminators. The stakes appeared raise after Imavov’s lackluster win over Borralho at UFC Paris a couple of weeks ago.

    De Ridder, the former two-division ONE champion, is 4-0 in the UFC since arriving to the Octagon last fall. His Octagon record has included finishes of Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and Bo Nickal, as well as a split decision victory over Robert Whittaker.

    Allen fought two months ago at UFC 318, scoring a decision over Marvin Vettori.

  • “Diabolical” – Fight Fans Question Brendan Allen’s Post-Fight Speech After Defeating Marvin Vettori At UFC 318

    “Diabolical” – Fight Fans Question Brendan Allen’s Post-Fight Speech After Defeating Marvin Vettori At UFC 318

    Marvin Vettori and Brendan Allen’s grudge seemed to come to an end at UFC 318, as the two clashed on the preliminary card, with Allen scoring a decision win.

    The two began to trade right away, with each making the other stumble in the fight’s opening minute. Allen, however, pressured and brought the fight to the ground, threatening a bloodied Vettori with a rear-naked choke. Vettori survived the attempts, however, and rolled his way on top. Vettori threatened his own choke before Allen got back to his feet with 90 seconds left in the round.

    The second round was closer, with both men having their moments — though Allen’s strikes may have had a little more impact behind them. The two continued their back-and-forth battle into the third round, with Allen eventually taking a unanimous decision on the scorecards.

    Allen’s post-fight speech brought a lot of cheers in the Smoothie King Center, considering Allen is a native of Louisiana. However, Allen’s tribute to his own brother was brought about some dispute from some in the MMA community.

    Vettori recently lost his own brother in a house fire.

    Brendan Allen Scores Victory Over Rival Marvin Vettori At UFC 318

    Allen and Vettori have had bad blood since a scheduled bout between the two last year fell through. The two later went on to have a physical altercation in Florida following a PFL card.

    This win allows Allen to rebound following back-to-back losses against Nassourdine Imavov and Anthony Hernandez.

    Vettori has now lost three straight and four of her last five.

  • Dustin Poirier’s retirement: Brendan Allen looks back at how hard The Diamond hits

    Dustin Poirier’s retirement: Brendan Allen looks back at how hard The Diamond hits

    UFC middleweight Brendan Allen has spoken about how hard he was hit by Dustin Poirier once upon a time when they trained together.

    On Saturday night, Dustin Poirier will officially retire from professional mixed martial arts. He’ll do so after taking part in a trilogy fight against Max Holloway, with the two competing for the BMF title in the main event of UFC 318. Regardless of whether he wins or loses, it’s safe to say that ‘The Diamond’ will receive an incredible ovation from his home state of Louisiana.

    In a recent inteview Brendan Allen, who will also compete on the UFC 318 card, opened up on his experience of training with Dustin Poirier many years ago.

    Brendan Allen on Dustin Poirier’s power

    “I was sparring, trying to watch them spar because they were having a hell of a sparring session. Then it was live gos starting from guard against the wall and man they said go and he hit me so hard. It was like a live drill but you start in guard and he hit me so hard. I’m like f*ck man, I’m just a kid. We ain’t little no more. That sh*t ain’t going to happen again.”

    “You learn real quick,” Allen said. “That was my whole upbringing at the beginning, just trying with guys that are 25, 26, 27 [years old] and I’m 14, 15, 16 years old. It’s way different than nowadays, I can tell you that. It’s way different.”

    “At the end of the day, everything aside, I’m super happy for him and his family,” Allen said. “He’s earned every single thing he has right now. So many fighters would kill to have that and he’s done it. No matter what happens, the man has made a great life for himself by punching people in the face. You can’t ask for anything more than that.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Marvin Vettori Doesn’t Like Brendan Allen and Explains Precisely Why: “His Face”

    Marvin Vettori doesn’t like Brendan Allen.

    Last year, a run-in at a casino in Florida resulted in a full-fledge brawl between Vettori and Allen. Now, the two middleweight contenders will square off this Saturday night when the Ultimate Fighting Championship heads to New Orleans for a loaded UFC 318 card inside the Smoothie King Center.

    In the time since their viral encounter, Vettori has had plenty of negative things to say about Allen, but his hatred for the American boils down to Vettori simply not liking the cut of Allen’s jib.

    “It’s a long story. But I’m gonna tell you this, just by the look of his face, I don’t like him,” Vettori told TMZ Sports. “Doesn’t take much. F—k man, this guy, he’s just unlikable. But I mean there is reason but I don’t want to say it here… The way he carries himself, he’s just a whiny little guy.”

    Marvin Vettori Promises a Big Finish in ‘The Big Easy’

    With that said, ‘The Italian Dream’ is determined to deliver a highlight-reel finish in NOLA and climb his way back into the win column for the first time since 2023.

    “It’s not gonna go the distance, I’m just gonna tell you that,” he added. “I’m gonna go all out, it’s gonna be like now or never, it’s gonna be kill or die… I’m looking to run through him, completely f—ing dismantle this guy.”

    Vettori goes into the bout riding back-to-back losses, coming up short against Jared Cannonier and Roman Dolidze. Similarly, Allen has also lost his last in his two outings, falling to Nassourdine Imavov and Anthony Hernandez.

    With Vettori and Allen holding things down as the 10th and 11th-ranked fighters in the division, respectively, a win is unlikely to gain either one much momentum at middleweight. However, it will give the winner and opportunity to once again fight their way up the rankings rather than simply trying to maintain their position.

  • Brendan Allen Set To Grapple Top UFC Middleweight In Karate Combat Days On From Seattle Loss

    Brendan Allen Set To Grapple Top UFC Middleweight In Karate Combat Days On From Seattle Loss

    UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen will have the chance to return to winning ways less than a week on from his crushing defeat to Anthony Hernandez — but not inside the Octagon.

    Allen has had his charge toward a championship opportunity on MMA’s biggest stage stalled in his last two fights, during which he’s fallen from a seven-fight win streak to a two-bout losing skid.

    After a defeat to Nassourdine Imavov in Paris last September, “All In” was unable to bounce back last weekend in Seattle, where he fell to a decision setback at the hands of Anthony Hernandez.

    But an unsurprisingly disheartened Allen won’t be waiting long until he gets back to competitive action.

    It was announced Wednesday that the 29-year-old will feature in a grappling match at Karate Combat 53 in Denver this coming Friday. He’s slated to battle a fellow top 10 middleweight contender in Caio Borralho.

    Having been outgrappled by “Fluffy” at Climate Pledge Arena, this is likely a conscious effort from Allen to fix the holes in his game ahead of a renewed push back up the 185-pound ladder.

    While the American has been slipping down the pecking order recently, the same can’t be said for Borralho. The Fighting Nerds standout has gone 7-0 in the UFC, collecting three Performance of the Night bonuses in the process.

    “The Natural” most recently got the better of Jared Cannonier in his main event debut at the Apex last August.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Mocks Brendan Allen After Latest Setback At UFC Seattle

    Dricus Du Plessis Mocks Brendan Allen After Latest Setback At UFC Seattle

    UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen isn’t getting any sympathy from his division’s champion after a tough night at the office this past Saturday night.

    Allen returned to action on Feb. 22, co-headlining the UFC Fight Night event in Seattle opposite a former adversary in fan favorite Anthony Hernandez.

    While “All In” targeted redemption for a defeat to “Fluffy” under the LFA banner en route to defending his spot in the top 10 at 185 pounds, he was once again unable to get the better of Hernandez, this time on the scorecards.

    The result has marked the latest setback to Allen’s title ambitions after he had his seven-fight winning run snapped by Nassourdine Imavov in Paris last September.

    And the Beaufort native is unsurprisingly disappointed, which showed in his first statement on social media post-fight.

    “Just ain’t the guy I thought I was,” Allen wrote. “Hats off to (Hernandez), love the guy through the s*** this sport brings. Who knows what’s next. Thanks to my team and those who stuck with me.”

    Though he received plenty of supportive messages in the comments section, one longtime verbal sparring partner was ready to add salt to Allen’s wounds.

    Reigning titleholder Dricus Du Plessis appeared with a less than positive remark, mocking the sizable blow to Allen’s championship hopes.

    Du Plessis on Allen

    “I don’t know what’s next either but I can most certainly tell what ain’t next for a very long time.”

    Du Plessis and Allen have long gone back and forth on social media and during interviews, with their feud seemingly dating back to a brief stint training together and a clear contrast in personality.

    Since then, “All In” has repeatedly vowed to reach the South African and prove his criticism of the champ’s fighting style correct. As Du Plessis pointed out, however, such a matchup is now a distant possibility following Allen’s likely exit from the top 10.

  • Anthony Hernandez Surpasses Legend’s Record In Co-Main Event Victory Over Brendan Allen At UFC Seattle

    Anthony Hernandez Surpasses Legend’s Record In Co-Main Event Victory Over Brendan Allen At UFC Seattle

    At LFA 32 in January 2018, prior to their arrival to the Octagon, Anthony Hernandez defeated Brendan Allen to win the then-vacant LFA middleweight championship. Now, seven years later, “Fluffy” proved that he still has the upper hand by defeating “All In” at UFC Seattle.

    Allen landed a high kick early in the fight and looked to take grappling control. But Hernandez rolled through with him, got into top position and took control of the grappling exchanges. “Fluffy” looked for a couple of chokes, but Allen countered and got into top control with less than two minutes to go in the round. “All In” used short strikes to the head to work his way into mount, where he was able to trouble Hernandez with a rear-naked choke attempt and bust him open with an elbow in the process.

    The Californian took back momentum with a takedown to start the second round, where he troubled Allen with another guillotine attempt and countered all of his transition and reversal attempts. But just like the first round, with less than two minutes left, Allen was able to score a reversal and get into his top game.

    Allen got a hold of “Fluffy’s” back, but Hernandez was able to dump him and get back on top, staying there for the rest of the round.

    Anthony Hernandez Bests Brendan Allen In UFC Seattle Rematch Seven Years In Making

    Allen landed knuckles to Hernandez’s eye at the start of the third, and follow-up shots on the fight’s resumption appeared to trouble Hernandez. “Fluffy” was able to battle back and pin “All In” against the fence, attempting to get back to Allen’s back and remaining in control of the grappling exchanges for the remainder of the fight.

    Hernandez won the fight 29-28 on all three judges’ scorecards. In the process, he also broke Chris Weidman’s record for most takedowns in UFC middleweight history.

    “Fluffy” has now won seven straight fights, having gone unbeaten since 2021.

    Allen, meanwhile, has now dropped two straight fights after going on a seven-fight win streak.

  • UFC Seattle Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Cejudo vs. Song, Allen vs. Hernandez, & More

    UFC Seattle Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Cejudo vs. Song, Allen vs. Hernandez, & More

    UFC Seattle is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.

    The upcoming event takes place Saturday, February 22, at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. The main card begins at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be former two-division champion Henry Cejudo. After consecutive losses to Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili since returning from retirement, “Triple C” will look to notch the first win of his comeback at the expense of fellow top 10 bantamweight Song Yadong.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see ranked middleweight contenders Brendan Allen and Anthony Hernandez collide. While the former will look to bounce back from defeat to Nassourdine Imavov last time out, “Fluffy” is pursuing a sixth straight win.

    And also making the walk on Saturday will be the likes of Rob Font, Jean Silva, Alonzo Menifield, Andre Fili and Ricky Simón.

    UFC Seattle: Cejudo vs. Song Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Seattle (as of 2/17), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Henry Cejudo (+230) vs. Song Yadong (-285)
    • Brendan Allen (+240) vs. Anthony Hernandez (-298)
    • Jean Silva (-575) vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan (+425)
    • Rob Font vs. Jean Matsumoto
    • Alonzo Menifield (-205) vs. Julius Walker (+170)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Andre Fili (-120) vs. Melquizael Costa (+100)
    • Ion Cuțelaba (+130) vs. Ibo Aslan (-155)
    • Nursulton Ruziboev (-305) vs. Eric McConico (+245)
    • Ricky Simón (+240) vs. Javid Basharat (-298)
    • Mansur Abdul-Malik (-850) vs. Nick Klein (+520)
    • Modestas Bukauskas (-325) vs. Raffael Cerqueira (+260)
  • Anthony Hernandez Says Brendan Allen Has Got A Lot Better Since Their First Fight: ‘I Just Think I Have His Number’

    Anthony Hernandez Says Brendan Allen Has Got A Lot Better Since Their First Fight: ‘I Just Think I Have His Number’

    Top 15 middleweights are set to meet for the second time in their careers on February 22 in a huge fight for both men. Anthony Hernandez is one of the surging contenders at 185-pounds right now following his main event win over Michel Pereira last time out where his relentless output was the story of the fight once again.

    His next opponent, Brendan Allen, was another one of of middleweight’s most in-form fighters until a recent loss to Nassourdine Imavov halted his winning streak. The two men first met all the way back in 2018 in a five-round fight that had a huge impact on their careers.

    Hernandez got the win at LFA 32 and went on to receive an opportunity on Dana White’s Contender Series. Allen, on the other hand, secured a few more wins in order to bounce back and join his former foe in the UFC where he has been incredibly active to climb up the rankings quickly.

    Hernandez recalls that his first fight with Allen was a tough outing and he gives his opponent a lot of respect for the improvements he had made over the past six years. However, as he revealed in a recent interview with Inside Fighting, he still believes that he will get his hand raised once again regardless of how much better Allen has become.

    “I mean he called me out and it’s like all right well if you want to f****** run it back I mean it’s the perfect opportunity because obviously he’s ahead of me, he’s been healthy and he’s, well his last fight he lost, but he’s been winning and stuff and like the kid’s gotten so much f****** better. I just think I have his number, you know what I mean.”

  • Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez Booked For UFC Fight Night On Feb. 22

    Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez Booked For UFC Fight Night On Feb. 22

    Ranked middleweights are set to run it back at a UFC Fight Night in the first quarter of the new year.

    Brendan Allen (24-6), who currently occupies the #9 spot in the middleweight top 15, had his charge toward a desired first title shot on MMA’s biggest stage stalled this past September. At the UFC Fight Night in Paris, France’s own Nassourdine Imavov snapped the American’s seven-fight win streak to defend his place in the championship conversation.

    “All In” will be looking for a quick rebound, and the chance to achieve that will come on Feb. 22 when he also has the opportunity to avenge a past defeat.

    Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, Allen is set to renew hostilities with Anthony Hernandez (13-2, 1 NC). “Fluffy” outpointed the top-10 contender back at LFA 32 in 2018, a result that earned him a shot on Dana White’s Contender Series and paved his path into the UFC.

    A location is yet to be confirmed for the UFC Fight Night on Feb. 22, but Seattle is the reported target.

    Before suffering defeat at the hands of Imavov, Allen had risen the ranks with submission victories over Andre Muniz, Bruno Silva, and Paul Craig, as well as a hard-fought main event decision against Chris Curtis.

    Hernandez, meanwhile, has won six on the bounce since a knockout loss to Kevin Holland in 2020. That run includes memorable submissions of decorated BJJ specialist Rodolfo Vieira and Roman Kopylov, in addition to knockouts of Edmen Shahbazyan and Michel Pereira.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Mocks Brendan Allen After UFC Paris Loss: ‘You Suck, Loser’

    Dricus Du Plessis Mocks Brendan Allen After UFC Paris Loss: ‘You Suck, Loser’

    It was not the best of nights for Brendan Allen at UFC Paris, coming up short against Nassourdine Imavov in a crucial co-main event clash of top middleweight contenders.

    Allen appeared to be in complete control of the fight over the first five minutes, laying into Imavov and delivering most, if not all, of the activity in the first round. But the American seemed to fatigue from there.

    That led to the Frenchman taking control, especially in the grappling realm. Imavov ultimately scored the judges’ nod on all three scorecards.

    This fight did not do Allen any favors as he aims to finally capture a shot at the UFC middleweight championship. And current champ, Dricus Du Plessis — someone who Allen is not fond of — let him know it on social media after the performance.

    Dricus Du Plessis, Brendan Allen Trade Barbs On Social Media After Allen’s Loss At UFC Paris

    Allen was not going to let Du Plessis’ comments go unnoticed, giving him a response back. “All In” reiterated a past claim, stating that the South African has been avoiding him during his rise up the middleweight ranks.

    Allen saw a seven-fight win streak snapped as a result of his loss in Paris.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Renato Moicano TKOs Benoît Saint Denis

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Renato Moicano TKOs Benoît Saint Denis

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the Accor Arena in Paris, France and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, ranked lightweights Renato Moicano (#11) and Benoît Saint Denis (#12) clashed. While in the co-main event, Nassourdine Imavov faced Brendan Allen in a middleweight matchup. 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Lightweight Main Event: Renato Moicano def. Benoît Saint Denis via TKO (doctor’s stoppage): R2, 5.00  
    • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Nassourdine Imavov def. Brendan Allen via unanimous decision (29-28×3)  
    • Featherweight: William Gomis def. Joanderson Brito via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Welterweight: Bryan Battle def. Kevin Jousset via TKO: R2, 3.47 
    • Featherweight: Morgan Charriere def. Gabriel Miranda via KO: R2, 0.27
    • Lightweight: Farès Ziam def. Matt Frevola via KO: R3, 2.59

    Preliminary Card: 

    • Light Heavyweight: Ion Cuțelaba def. Ivan Erslan via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29) 
    • Light Heavyweight: Oumar Sy def. Da Woon Jung via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Lightweight: L’udovit Klein def. Roosevelt Roberts via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Bantamweight: Taylor Lapilus def. Vince Morales via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Ailín Pérez def. Dariya Zheleznykova via submission (arm-triangle choke): R1, 3:52
    • Flyweight: Daniel Barez def. Victor Altamirano via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Nora Cornolle via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
    • Lightweight: Chris Duncan def. Bolaji Oki via submission (rear-naked choke): R1, 3:35

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Chris Duncan Def. Bolaji Oki

    Ailín Pérez Def. Dariya Zheleznykova

    Main Card Highlights

    Farès Ziam def. Matt Frevola

    In this lightweight matchup, Farès Ziam got it done with a brutal KO of Matt Frevola in the third round.

    Morgan Charriere def. Gabriel Miranda

    Morgan Charriere unleashed a brutal left hook to KO Gabriel Miranda in the second round of their lightweight matchup.

    Bryan Battle def. Kevin Jousset

    In this welterweight contest, Bryan Battle upset the Paris crowd with a TKO of Frenchman Kevin Jousset in the second round.

    William Gomis def. Joanderson Brito

    William Gomis got it done on the scorecards against Joanderson Brito in their featherweight bout.

    Nassourdine Imavov def. Brendan Allen

    Nassourdine Imavov earned a unanimous decision against Brendan Allen in their middleweight bout.

    Renato Moicano def. Benoît Saint Denis

    In the main event, Renato Moicano silenced the Paris crowd with a doctor’s stoppage TKO of Benoît Saint Denis. The doctor waved off the fight at the end of round two after Saint Denis was deemed not able to see out of his right eye.

  • ‘Imagine What Du Plessis Would Do To These Two’ – MMA Fans React As Nassourdine Imavov Decisions Brendan Allen At UFC Paris

    ‘Imagine What Du Plessis Would Do To These Two’ – MMA Fans React As Nassourdine Imavov Decisions Brendan Allen At UFC Paris

    A battle of middleweight contenders in the co-main event of UFC Paris saw Nassourdine Imavov come out on top over Brendan Allen.

    Allen was in complete control of the fight in the first round, bringing virtually all of the activity. But in the second frame, the momentum shifted swiftly. Imavov won the grappling battle in that round, taking advantage of a tired “All In” and displaying strong shots from the top ground position.

    The American’s striking seemed off in the second stanza, and that stretched into the third, with his French counterpart landing the better strikes and having control of the fight on the mat.

    Imavov ultimately scored the judges’ nod on all three scorecards.

    Nassourdine Imavov Keeps Momentum Alive With Decision Win Over Brendan Allen In Paris

    https://twitter.com/blondedmma/status/1840146075002302757

    Imavov has now won three straight since his no contest with Chris Curtis at UFC 289. The Frenchman’s win streak has also seen him score a majority decision over Roman Dolidze and a controversial finish of Jared Cannonier.

    Meanwhile, Allen’s seven-fight winning run was snapped in Paris, a streak that saw him earn victories over Curtis, Paul Craig, and Bruno Silva.

  • UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    After staging its latest numbered event inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere earlier this month for Noche UFC, MMA’s leading promotion has gone back on the road for a card inside the Accor Arena in Paris, France.

    In a first, heavyweight standout Ciryl Gane won’t be topping the lineup. Instead, the Sept. 28 event sees Benoît Saint Denis as the main attraction for the French crowd as he does battle with Renato Moicano.

    Nassourdine Imavov can also expect a good reception for the co-main event. The top-five middleweight contender will look to advance his title ambitions on home soil by ending the winning run of Brendan Allen.

    Ahead of the event, 27 out of the 28 fighters successfully made weight, with Ailín Pérez’s 0.5-pound miss of the bantamweight limit marking the sole indiscretion on the scale.

    Nevertheless, every fight is intact, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC Fight Night Paris ceremonial weigh-ins!

    Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 12 PM ET.

    UFC Fight Night Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

  • UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    Following a successful maiden event inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere earlier this month, the mixed martial arts leader returns to action across the Atlantic.

    This weekend sees the Octagon in Paris, France for the third time. While the previous two UFC Fight Nights in the country’s capital have been headlined by Ciryl Gane, the Sept. 28 event presents the opportunity for another French standout to make a splash.

    In the main event, exciting lightweights Benoît Saint Denis and Renato Moicano go to battle. Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as top-five middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov defends his spot opposite the in-form Brendan Allen.

    UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis takes place on Saturday, September 28, at the Accor Arena in Paris, France. The main card begins at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT.

    With that said, you can check out the full weigh-in results below!

    Main Card:

    • Lightweight Main Event: Renato Moicano (156lbs) vs. Benoît Saint Denis (156lbs)
    • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Nassourdine Imavov (186lbs) vs. Brendan Allen (186lbs)
    • Featherweight: William Gomis (146kbs) vs. Joanderson Brito (146lbs)
    • Welterweight: Kevin Jousset (169lbs) vs. Bryan Battle (170lbs)
    • Featherweight: Morgan Charriere (146lbs) vs. Gabriel Miranda (146lbs)
    • Lightweight: Farès Ziam (156lbs) vs. Matt Frevola (156lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Light Heavyweight: Ion Cuțelaba (205lbs) vs. Ivan Erslan (206lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Oumar Sy (205lbs) vs. Da Woon Jung (205lbs)
    • Lightweight: L’udovit Klein (155lbs) vs. Roosevelt Roberts (155lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Taylor Lapilus (136lbs) vs. Vince Morales (135lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Ailín Pérez (136.5lbs)* vs. Dariya Zheleznykova (135lbs)
    • Flyweight: Daniel Barez (125lbs) vs. Victor Altamirano (126lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Nora Cornolle (136lbs) vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti (135lbs)
    • Lightweight: Bolaji Oki (156lbs) vs. Chris Duncan (156lbs)

    *Ailín Pérez missed the bantamweight limit by half-a-pound, forfeits 20 percent of her purse