Middleweights Brendan Allen and Christian Leroy Duncan closed out the show at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night, headlining a pivotal UFC Vegas 122 card that showcased the high-stakes drama typical of the promotion’s elite 185-pound division.
England’s Christian Leroy Duncan entered the main event riding an impressive five-fight winning streak, a surging run of momentum that earned the European contender the first main event opportunity of his Ultimate Fighting Championship career. Across the Octagon stood Brendan "All In" Allen, a seasoned main-scene veteran who had won his last three consecutive bouts. No stranger to the bright lights and championship distance of a UFC headliner, Allen entered the contest unbeaten since his strategic departure from Kill Cliff FC to train under the guidance of former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad. The stylistic matchup promised a compelling clash between Duncan’s dynamic, unorthodox striking and Allen’s suffocating grappling prowess.
When the cage door locked, Duncan came out of his corner visibly heated and aggressive. The fast start immediately allowed Allen to capitalize on the forward pressure, snapping off a sharp uppercut that caught the Englishman’s attention. The fighters quickly transitioned into a clinch against the cage, where Duncan successfully muscled the American up against the fence. A grueling grappling battle ensued in tight quarters, but Allen’s veteran savvy ultimately shone through as he reversed position, secured a tight body lock, and executed a crisp takedown off a throw. Allen quickly transitioned to take the back, establishing a seated position. Although the angle was slightly wide, preventing him from immediately flattening Duncan out, Allen maintained firm control with the body lock while Duncan fought furiously for hand control, eventually managing to break the grip and return to his feet.
Once he had carved out some operating space, "CLD" began finding a rhythm with his hands. He tagged Allen cleanly more than once, though the durable American simply worked straight through the adversity. The striking exchanges grew increasingly technical and physical; Duncan landed a sharp standing elbow in close, and Allen instantly fired one right back in response. Furthermore, Duncan’s long, varied front kicks were dialed in, keeping the range difficult for Allen to comfortably navigate early on.
The complexion of the bout shifted slightly as round two got underway. Moments after Allen had explicitly warned referee Marc Goddard about Duncan keeping his fingers extended outward, an accidental eye poke caught the American flush. While Allen recovered sufficiently to continue, referee Goddard elected to take a point away from Duncan for the infraction. Notably, this marked the second fight on the UFC Vegas 122 fight card that featured a point deduction due to fouls, highlighting an unusually strict enforcement of rules on the night.
Back underway following the stoppage, Allen quickly closed the distance and clinched up at the center of the Octagon. The middleweights traded knees before Allen initiated a powerful takedown, instantly landing in side control with over two minutes remaining in the frame. Duncan, who appeared to have been bloodied at some point during the grappling exchanges, tried desperately to nullify the offense, but Allen systematically worked toward taking the back once again. Though Duncan managed to scramble and maneuver himself back against the fence, Allen managed to slide a hook in, maintaining heavy pressure. CLD ultimately survived the remainder of the dangerous second frame, but the momentum had clearly tilted toward the wrestler.
Early in the third round, Allen secured another crucial takedown, but the sequence quickly backfired as Duncan exploited a momentary scramble to reverse positions and seize control. Duncan secured a single hook, controlled his opponent from the back, and soon forced Allen down to the canvas. Yet, as the grappling exchanges continued to unfold, "All In" repeatedly demonstrated that he was the superior mat technician. Allen reversed the position cleanly, settled firmly on top inside Duncan’s guard, and spent a prolonged period dictating the pace and landing measured offense. Another late transition once again allowed Duncan to regain control, and after landing a brief flurry of ground-and-pound, CLD finished the third round on top in a high-paced grappling chess match.
Round four found Allen pressing the action aggressively right from the bell, attempting to hem Duncan in along the face of the Octagon. Allen threw some heavy, wide punches that forced a visibly tiring CLD to retreat toward the perimeter. Duncan circled heavily on the outside, finding himself pinned back against the fence as the deep waters of a scheduled five-round main event began to take a toll. His relative inexperience in championship-distance fights seemingly came into play against the battle-tested American, who had navigated the championship rounds several times before. While CLD managed to fire off a few token shots in defense, Allen consistently connected with the cleaner, more impactful blows whenever engagements materialized.
Entering the final round, Duncan’s corner delivered a blunt, honest assessment during the stool talk: he needed to win the fifth frame to secure victory. Compounded by the crucial point deduction suffered in the opening round, even if the judges scored the intervening frames evenly at two apiece, CLD mathematically trailed on the scorecards.
Understanding the urgency, Allen opened the final stanza with a sharp leg kick before Duncan countered with a knee to the body. Showing no signs of fatigue, Allen changed levels just 90 seconds into the round, secured a tight body lock, and dragged Duncan down to the canvas. Swiftly advancing his position, Allen worked his way under the chin with both hooks locked securely in place. Duncan fought with everything he had left, flailing defensively and refusing to tap as referee Marc Goddard leaned in closely to monitor his consciousness. In a frantic sequence, Duncan even swatted Goddard’s hand away, but the sheer squeeze of the choke proved insurmountable. Just seconds later, the Englishman was forced to finally submit before losing consciousness.
The submission victory at 2:46 of the fifth round capped off a stellar performance for Brendan Allen, who extended his current winning streak to four consecutive fights inside the Octagon.
In his post-fight Octagon interview with veteran broadcaster Michael Bisping, a visibly elated Allen made his intentions for the future crystal clear. The surging middleweight stated that he was firmly hunting for a world championship opportunity, or, should that elude him in the immediate matchmaking landscape, a high-profile showdown against former division champion Dricus Du Plessis.
Official Result: Brendan Allen def. Christian Leroy Duncan by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 5, 2:46
