Brendan Allen Beat Edmen Shahbazyan, And the UFC's Next Move Is a Straight Up INSULT.

Okay, so UFC Vegas 118 just dropped, and while everyone's still hyped on those first-round finishes and Gabriel Bonfim’s sick win over Belal Muhammad, did you notice what got totally buried? Brendan Allen, our guy, just landed a clear decision victory in the co-main event, taking down Edmen Shahbazyan. You’d think a top-five ranked middleweight winning would scream "title shot," right? WRONG. The way the UFC is handling Allen is straight-up bizarre, and frankly, it feels like a total slap in the face for a fighter who keeps proving he belongs at the very top.

A Clear Victory, But a Questionable Opponent

Let's talk about the fight itself. Allen and Shahbazyan traded blows, especially in those first couple of rounds. Shahbazyan was landing some good shots early on, but Allen? He found his rhythm, cranked up the power, and just picked "The Golden Boy" apart. It was a dominant performance leading to a clear decision. No doubt about who won that one. But here’s the kicker: why was our No. 4 ranked middleweight fighting Shahbazyan in the first place? Shahbazyan came in on a three-fight win streak, sure, but he's far removed from his top prospect days back in 2019. Honestly, some folks are saying he shouldn’t even be sniffing the rankings. It just feels... off. For a guy at Allen's level, this isn't the kind of matchup that moves the needle for a title run.

Denied A Title Eliminator, Again?!

This isn’t even the first time the UFC has dropped the ball with Allen. Remember last October? Our man stepped up on super short notice for the main event at UFC Vancouver. He filled in for an injured Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez against Reinier de Ridder. Everyone thought RDR was gonna roll over Allen and snag a title shot. But Allen was game! He got taken down in the first, but then saw through RDR’s energy tank, got on top in the second, and wore him down until de Ridder actually QUIT on his stool. A main event win against a guy who was supposed to be in a title eliminator, a performance that should have put Allen square in the title conversation! But instead, the UFC waited for Hernandez to get healthy, who then lost to Sean Strickland. It all led to Strickland upsetting Khamzat Chimaev for the title, a great fight no doubt, but still. Allen beat a guy who was basically on the cusp, and seven months later, he's fighting an unranked dude. I know some people rag on Allen's style, or his promos, but as a top-five fighter, he deserves respect and real opportunities. His losses? Hernandez, Imavov, Strickland, Chris Curtis, none of those are bad by any stretch.

What's Next for Our Guy?

Enough is enough. Brendan Allen has done the UFC a huge favor, stepping up and taking risks. He's proved himself worthy of the top echelon, and he deserves a major opportunity now. Whether it's a direct title shot, which would be cool, or at least a title eliminator, the UFC needs to get it right. Match him up with Imavov if he's available. Give him the winner of DDP vs. Usman. Even a rematch with Hernandez or a bout with Caio Borralho would make sense. You can’t keep someone like Allen on the sidelines or feeding him unranked opponents when he's clearly a contender. Let's see him push for that belt!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.