On Saturday, the No. 4-ranked UFC middleweight added another impressive win to his resume at UFC Vegas 122, where he headlined the card against Christian Leroy Duncan. In a grueling and tactical main event, Allen secured his fourth consecutive victory inside the promotion by securing a rear-naked choke submission in the fifth and final round. The performance showcased not only his grappling brilliance and stamina, but also his mental fortitude. It marked the second consecutive time that Allen has been forced to fight backward, defending his lofty position in the rankings against hungry contenders looking to steal his spot.
Instead of enjoying a brief respite after a draining championship-distance battle, Allen used his post-fight press conference to immediately redirect the narrative toward the top of the division. When media members pressed him on his next career move and a potential showdown with du Plessis, Allen did not mince words. He expressed his profound frustration with what he perceives as posturing and avoidance from the former titleholder, challenging du Plessis to step up and finally put pen to paper.
According to Allen, the matchup is the only logical next step for the division, rooted in past agreements that ultimately fell through and a lingering rivalry. However, he was quick to emphasize that while he wants the fight badly, he refuses to lower himself to chasing anyone who is unwilling to meet him in the cage. If du Plessis truly wants to prove himself against the division’s best, Allen argues, the path is clear. If not, the American is more than willing to look at other options with UFC brass while keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the ultimate prize.
Allen’s frustration with du Plessis is far from new. The middleweight standout has been publicly lobbying for a fight against the man known as "Stillknocks" for quite some time, only to watch the opportunity repeatedly slip through his fingers. The tipping point for Allen came earlier this year in July, when du Plessis opted to face former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC Oklahoma City rather than addressing the contenders in his own natural weight class.
For Allen, that matchmaking decision was definitive proof that du Plessis was intentionally steering clear of a dangerous, hungry challenger in his prime. During his post-fight address in Las Vegas, Allen lambasted the former champion’s choice of opponent, arguing that the middleweight top five is increasingly populated by fighters who prefer safe paths over genuine challenges. While Allen acknowledged Usman’s legendary status and historic resume at welterweight, he pointed out that the sport moves fast and that past accolades do not shield anyone from the realities of Father Time and the evolution of the division.
In Allen’s assessment, taking a fight against an aging former champion moving up in weight was a far safer gamble for du Plessis than stepping into the cage against someone of Allen’s size, skill set, and hunger. He did not hesitate to break down the matchup from a stylistic and physical standpoint, asserting that he holds every significant advantage needed to emerge victorious. Younger, heavier, faster, and possessing a comparable level of overall experience, Allen believes he represents the toughest possible test in the weight class—a reality he insists du Plessis, his team, and the entire MMA community are well aware of.
As the dust settles on UFC Vegas 122, the ball now sits firmly in the court of the UFC matchmakers and the upper echelon of the middleweight division. Allen trusts that UFC executive Hunter Campbell and the promotional team will formulate a strong path forward, whether that means securing the long-awaited grudge match against du Plessis or positioning Allen to wait for an even bigger opportunity at the championship picture. Having successfully defended his ranking once again and proven his endurance in the deep waters of a five-round main event, Brendan Allen has solidified his place as one of the most formidable forces at 185 pounds, leaving no doubt that he is ready for whoever the promotion puts in front of him next.
