The UFC Just Booked Brendan Allen Against WHO? And Our #4 Middleweight Deserves Better

Alright, Seattle! The Octagon action was wild over the weekend at UFC Vegas 118, and yeah, Gabriel Bonfim's win over Belal Muhammad was huge. But can we talk about what's really going on? Brendan Allen, our guy, just pulled off a clear decision win in the co-main event, beating Edmen Shahbazyan. The dude is ranked No. 4 in the UFC middleweight division, and frankly, the way they're treating him is getting straight-up baffling. This isn't just about a win, it's about a fighter who should be knocking on the door of a title shot, stuck in some serious UFC limbo.

This Ain't Right For a Top-5 Guy

Seriously, what are we doing here? Allen, ranked #4, fighting Edmen Shahbazyan? Shahbazyan came in on a three-fight win streak, sure, but he's nowhere near his 2019 prospect days, and let's be real, many folks say he shouldn't even be sniffing the rankings right now. Allen, on the other hand, is a legitimate threat. He started strong, Shahbazyan landed some good shots by the end of the first, but Allen's power picked up, and he just picked "The Golden Boy" apart for that clear decision victory. It's not that Allen performed poorly, it's that a #4 guy shouldn't be in this position in the first place. This booking just feels... off.

Vancouver Was Supposed To Change Everything

Remember last October? UFC Vancouver. Allen stepped up on short notice for an injured Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez, taking on Reinier de Ridder in the main event. Everyone thought RDR was going to roll him and get a middleweight title shot. Nope. RDR got a takedown in the first, but Allen saw through that energy tank. He got on top in the second, wore de Ridder down, and RDR QUIT ON HIS STOOL! That's the kind of performance that screams title contender, especially since de Ridder vs. Hernandez was supposed to be a title eliminator. And don't even get me started on the Imavov vs. Borralho eliminator, which was a total stinker. Instead of a shot, the UFC waited for Hernandez to heal, he then lost to Sean Strickland, which led to Strickland upsetting Khamzat Chimaev for the title at UFC 328. Look, Strickland-Chimaev was a classic, no doubt, but how does Allen go from beating a guy on the short path to title contention to fighting an unranked dude just seven months later? It makes zero sense.

What's Next For Our Guy?

Some people don't dig Allen's style, or his fight pace, or even his trash talk. Whatever. This dude is a top-five fighter and he deserves respect. His losses, like to Hernandez, Imavov, Strickland, and Chris Curtis, aren't bad at all. He's put in the work. Whether he gets the next middleweight title shot or not, he absolutely deserves a major opportunity after these two wins. Give him an eliminator! Rematch Imavov if he's not getting the shot. If he is, then give Allen the DDP vs. Usman winner. Or a rematch with Hernandez, or throw him in there with Caio Borralho. Allen has done the UFC a huge favor, taken big risks, and proven he belongs in the upper echelon. You just can't keep a guy like this on the sidelines. Let's see him push his status even further.

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