Brendan Allen Is No. 4 in the UFC. So Why Are They Making Him Fight Dudes Who Shouldn't Even Be Ranked?

Alright, Emerald City, can we talk about what just went down in the Octagon? UFC Vegas 118 delivered some wild finishes, for sure. Gabriel Bonfim snagged a massive victory over former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, and there were first-round submissions flying everywhere. But seriously, did anyone else notice Brendan Allen absolutely pick Edmen Shahbazyan apart in the co-main event, only for the UFC to keep treating him like he's not a top-tier contender? This dude is ranked No. 4 in the middleweight division, and they're still feeding him fights against guys who shouldn't even be sniffing the rankings!

A Clear Win Against a Questionable Opponent

Look, Allen won, no doubt about it. He and Shahbazyan traded blows through the first two rounds, and while Allen came out strong, Shahbazyan actually landed some better shots by the end of the first five minutes. But then Allen's power just ramped up. He picked "The Golden Boy" apart, earning a clear decision victory. The problem isn't Allen's performance, it's why he was in this spot at all! Our guy entered UFC Vegas 118 ranked No. 4 in the middleweight division. Shahbazyan was on a three-fight win streak, sure, but he's a long way from his top prospect days in 2019. Honestly, several people out there are saying he shouldn't even be ranked at this point. What gives? Our No. 4 guy is getting booked against someone most folks agree isn't even worthy of being in the conversation? That's just wild, man.

The Title Shot That Never Was

And here's the kicker: this isn't the first time Allen has been short-changed. Back in October, he stepped up on short notice for UFC Vancouver's main event, replacing an injured Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez against Reinier de Ridder. Everyone expected RDR, a former ONE champion, to defeat Allen and then go on to a middleweight title shot. But Allen was absolutely game that night! He scored a takedown in the first round, then got on top in the second, wearing RDR down until de Ridder actually quit on his stool! That's the kind of performance that should put you right into title shot talks, especially since RDR vs. Hernandez was supposed to be a title eliminator. And let's not forget the other eliminator, Imavov vs. Borralho, was a total stinker the month before. Instead, the UFC waited for Hernandez to get healthy. He then lost to Sean Strickland, which led to UFC 328 last month where Strickland upset Khamzat Chimaev to win the title. It was a classic fight, I'll give you that, but it feels so weird that Allen can beat a guy headed for title contention on short notice, win that fight, and then get booked against an unranked fighter just over seven months later.

What's Next for Our Guy?

Some folks don't dig Allen's style or the pace of his fights. Others aren't fans of his low fight IQ moments or how he talks in promos and interviews. But as a top-five-ranked fighter, he absolutely deserves respect for what he's done in the weight class. And seriously, his losses to Hernandez, Imavov, Strickland, and Chris Curtis? Those are not terrible defeats by any means. Even if you're not screaming for Brendan Allen to get the *next* middleweight title shot, he has earned another major opportunity after these two incredible outings in the last seven months. What's coming next for the division is still a mystery. Is Chimaev really moving up to light heavyweight? If not, do we get a Strickland vs. Chimaev rematch? If Chimaev *does* move up and Dricus Du Plessis wins his rumored matchup with Kamaru Usman, are we getting a trilogy fight between Strickland and Du Plessis, the former champ who's already beaten Strickland twice? You just can't keep a guy like Allen on the sidelines. If he earns a title shot next off these two wins, fantastic! If not, he absolutely deserves a title eliminator against someone. Rematch Imavov if he's not getting the shot. Give Allen the DDP vs. Usman winner. Or a rematch with Hernandez, or a fight with Caio Borralho. Brendan Allen has done the UFC a favor while taking on major opportunities, and now he's proved himself worthy of the upper echelon. It's time they give him another chance to push his status even further!

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