Brendan Allen, Ranked No. 4, Just Beat an Unranked Fighter and Nobody in the UFC Is Ready For What Comes Next

Alright, Emerald City, can we talk Brendan Allen for a second? Seriously, what's happening? We just saw him snag a clear decision win at UFC Vegas 118. That should be huge news! But get this: our guy, ranked No. 4 in the middleweight division, just beat Edmen Shahbazyan. While Shahbazyan was on a three-fight win streak, folks say he shouldn't sniff the rankings. What kind of path is this for a top-tier fighter?

The Co-Main Event that Makes No Sense

Think about it. Allen and Shahbazyan traded shots. Shahbazyan landed some good ones early, but by the end, Allen’s power took over, picking ‘The Golden Boy’ apart for the decision. It wasn't a bad performance, far from it! What's wild is why Allen, a legitimate top-five guy, was even in that co-main event against a fighter way past his 2019 prospect hype. It’s like the UFC's forgotten where he stands, even after what he pulled off just months ago.

A Path to the Title That Got Derrailed HARD

And that's the real kicker! Remember back in October? Allen stepped up at UFC Vancouver on short notice, filling in for an injured Anthony Hernandez against Reinier de Ridder. Everyone had de Ridder, a former ONE champ, winning that and heading for a title shot. He even got a takedown in the first round! But Allen? He saw right through de Ridder's gas tank, got on top in the second, and wore him down until de Ridder quit on his stool. I mean, COME ON! That's a title-shot-level performance, especially when de Ridder vs. Hernandez was a title eliminator. Plus, the other eliminator, Imavov vs. Borralho, was a stinker. Instead, the UFC waited for Hernandez to heal, only for him to lose to Sean Strickland. Then, Strickland upsets Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 to win the title last month, a classic fight, don't get me wrong. But it's backwards Allen conquers a guy on the cusp of contention, then gets booked against an unranked fighter seven months later. What gives?

It’s Time For Allen To Get His Due

I know some folks might not dig Allen’s style or the pace he sets. Maybe they don’t love his fight IQ moments or interview talk. But you can't deny his results. He’s a top-five fighter. His losses to Hernandez, Imavov, Strickland, and Chris Curtis? Those are not 'terrible' losses by any stretch. This isn't about giving him the *next* title shot if the timing's weird, but after these two outings in seven months, he deserves another major opportunity. He's done the UFC a solid, taken risks, and proved he belongs with the elite. You can’t keep a fighter like Allen on the sidelines, not when he’s performing like this. So what's next for our guy? That's the million-dollar division question. Is Chimaev really moving up to light heavyweight? Are we getting a Strickland vs. Chimaev rematch? If Chimaev moves and Dricus Du Plessis beats Usman, is it a Strickland-Du Plessis trilogy next, with Du Plessis beating Strickland twice already? All those questions aside, Allen needs a title eliminator, at minimum. Rematch Imavov, or give him the winner of DDP-Usman. Maybe even a revenge match against Hernandez or a fight with Caio Borralho. Whatever it is, Allen pushed his status, and the UFC needs to recognize it now. Let's see our guy get the chance he's earned!

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