Brendan Allen Made Reinier de Ridder Quit On His Stool, And The UFC Is STILL Sleeping On Him

Alright, Seattle, we gotta talk about something that's driving me absolutely bonkers. UFC Vegas 118 just dropped, and while Gabriel Bonfim got a huge win, I'm sitting here wondering why the heck Brendan Allen is still flying under the radar. This dude is a legitimate force, ranked No. 4 in the middleweight division, and he just went out and picked apart Edmen Shahbazyan for a clear decision win in the co-main event! What more does he have to do to get the respect he's earned?

This Dude Is a Machine, So Why Is He Being Ignored?

Seriously, it makes zero sense. Allen, sitting pretty at No. 4 in the rankings, gets booked against Shahbazyan. Yeah, Edmen was on a three-fight win streak, but let's be real, he's a long way from his "top prospect" days of 2019. Many folks wouldn't even have him sniffing the rankings. So, what happened? Allen came out strong, even though Shahbazyan landed some solid shots by the end of the first round. But then Allen's power just took over. He systematically picked "The Golden Boy" apart, securing that clear decision victory. It wasn't just a good win, it was a statement that should have been way louder than it was.

Remember When He Made RDR Quit? That Was a Title Eliminator, Folks!

And let's not forget the absolute insanity that happened back in October. Allen stepped up on short notice to main event UFC Vancouver, filling in for an injured Anthony Hernandez against Reinier de Ridder. Everyone expected RDR to win and secure a title shot. But Allen? He was game. De Ridder got a takedown in the first round, sure, but Allen just saw right through RDR's energy tank. He got on top in the second, wore the guy down, and RDR QUIT ON HIS STOOL! That's not just a win, that's a *statement*! Especially when you consider RDR versus Hernandez was supposed to be a title eliminator, and the other supposed eliminator between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho last month ended up being a total stinker. Instead of Allen getting his due, the UFC waited for Hernandez to heal up, only for him to lose to Sean Strickland, who then upset Khamzat Chimaev for the title at UFC 328 last month. What a classic fight, don't get me wrong, but it's just wild that Allen beats a guy who was literally heading towards title contention, then gets booked against an unranked fighter seven months later.

What's the Holdup? Give This Man His Shot!

I know, I know. Some folks aren't jazzed about Allen's style or pace. Some point to "low fight IQ moments" or things he says in promos. But the guy is a top-five ranked fighter! He deserves respect for his place in the weight class. And honestly, his losses to Hernandez, Imavov, Strickland, and Chris Curtis? Those are not terrible defeats by any stretch. The middleweight division is a mess of unanswered questions right now: Is Chimaev really going to light heavyweight? Are we getting a Strickland vs. Chimaev rematch? If Du Plessis beats Usman in their rumored fight, are we seriously looking at a trilogy with Strickland, a guy DDP has already beaten twice? You simply cannot keep a guy like Allen on the sidelines. He's done the UFC a favor, taken big risks, and proven he belongs at the top. Whether he gets the title shot next or not, he absolutely deserves a title eliminator. Match him with Imavov if Imavov isn't getting the shot. Give him the Du Plessis-Usman winner. A rematch with Hernandez, or even Caio Borralho. Brendan Allen has earned his next big opportunity, and it's time the UFC recognizes it!

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