Middle contender Brendan Allen has launched a fresh verbal assault on Dricus Du Plessis, accusing the reigning star of actively avoiding a matchup against him and instead opting for an easier path by facing former welterweight kingpin Kamaru Usman.
The simmering feud stems from discussions that took place earlier in the year. According to Allen, a high-stakes clash between himself and Du Plessis was heavily discussed and reportedly in the works for January. However, the anticipated bout abruptly fell apart after Allen was informed that Du Plessis was dealing with an injury and unable to compete on the targeted timeline.
While injuries are an unfortunate and inevitable reality of mixed martial arts, the trajectory of Du Plessis’s career following that canceled booking left a sour taste in Allen’s mouth. Rather than rescheduling the bout with Allen once he recovered, Du Plessis pivoted toward a massive summer showdown. In July, the champion squared off against Kamaru Usman, the legendary former Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight titleholder who moved up a division to challenge him. Du Plessis ultimately walked away with a hard-fought victory via unanimous decision, further cementing his dominant status at the top of the division.
Yet, as Allen prepares for his own high-profile assignment, he remains convinced that Du Plessis strategically bypassed a much more hazardous stylistic matchup in favor of a legacy-boosting, yet stylistically favorable, encounter with an aging veteran.
Brendan Allen Explains Why He Believes He Was a Tougher Opponent Than Kamaru Usman
Speaking candidly with UFC on Paramount+, Allen did not mince words when breaking down the matchmaking politics behind the scenes. While “All In” readily acknowledges that the 39-year-old Usman remains a significantly bigger box-office draw and a more decorated name on paper, he firmly believes that those credentials masked the reality of the matchup. In Allen’s view, Usman represented a far more manageable puzzle to solve at this stage of his career compared to the surging, prime-aged threat that Allen himself poses.
“I know he’s had the opportunity to fight me and he took the easier route,” Allen told UFC on Paramount+. “He can say whatever he wants; it’s a fact. We were supposed to fight. And somehow it got worked that Kamaru’s name got thrown in there. And obviously Kamaru is a bigger draw even though he’s older, up a weight class. He took the easier fight, plain and simple. Everyone knows it was the easier fight. I’m bigger, I’m stronger, I’m faster. I think I’m more talented, but people are gonna play off of Kamaru’s resume. OK, play off his resume, but I don’t think that Kamaru can make it five rounds with me.”
The accusations highlight the complex and often frustrating nature of matchmaking at the elite level of mixed martial arts, where fighters frequently weigh the risks of facing hungry, ascending contenders against the financial and promotional upside of legacy fights against established legends. For Allen, the missed opportunity in January remains a sore spot as he continues his relentless pursuit of championship gold.
Despite the lingering frustration over how the schedule shook out, Allen cannot afford to dwell on what might have been as he stands on the precipice of his next major test inside the Octagon. The 29-year-old boasts an impressive professional record of 27 wins and 7 losses, showcasing the grappling prowess, durability, and finishing instinct that have made him one of the most dangerous men in the middleweight weight class.
Allen will look to channel his frustrations into a statement performance this weekend as he enters the main event spotlight. He is scheduled to headline UFC Vegas 122, taking place in Las Vegas, where he will lock horns with surging contender Christian Leroy Duncan. Duncan enters the bout carrying a wealth of momentum of his own, holding a professional record of 15 wins and only 2 losses, alongside a stellar five-fight winning streak that has put the rest of the division on notice.
For Allen, securing a victory on Saturday is paramount if he hopes to force the hand of the matchmakers and finally secure the title opportunity he feels he has earned. Entering the Octagon with three consecutive victories already under his belt, a win over a dangerous opponent like Duncan would further solidify his standing near the absolute summit of the division. Whether a triumph this weekend will finally move him past the shadow of the missed Du Plessis matchup and earn him the championship redemption he desires remains to be seen, but Allen has made it abundantly clear that he is ready to prove his claims against anyone the promotion puts in front of him.
