LAS VEGAS – After his impressive victory in late 2025, many expected Brendan Allen’s career to take off rapidly.
Almost a year ago, Allen (27-7 MMA, 15-4 UFC), a consistent presence in the UFC middleweight rankings, took a short-notice fight against Reinier de Ridder, a former ONE Championship titleholder who was riding a five-fight win streak and had recently defeated ex-UFC middleweight champ Robert Whittaker. With de Ridder nearing a title shot and Allen stepping in last minute, few gave Allen much of a chance.
Defying expectations, Allen scored a stoppage win over the Dutch fighter, marking a huge upset. Since then, Allen beat unranked Edmen Shahbazyan in June. Now he is set to face Christian Leroy Duncan (15-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC), the division’s No. 10 contender, as the main event at UFC Fight Night 290 (Paramount+) this Saturday.
Although Allen aims to face higher-ranked opponents, limited availability and his need to earn a paycheck have led him to compete against fighters ranked lower than himself.
“I have a general timeline for when I want to fight, around October. Obviously, everyone wants to take on tougher opponents, but if no one’s available, I fight whoever is next,” Allen said at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 290 media day. “I don’t want to sit out waiting—I simply can’t afford to. I don’t have sponsors paying me thousands a month to sit idle. So, I try to stick to a schedule and fight whoever is willing and available, even if that means taking on guys lower down the list.”
While Duncan may not yet be a household name at 185 pounds, he’s on an upward trajectory with five straight wins, including two knockouts from spinning strikes. Allen acknowledges Duncan as a dangerous opponent and looks forward to the challenge.
“He’s early in his career and still figuring things out. I think he’s talented but inexperienced,” Allen remarked. “This fight is a major step up for him. I expect him to either rise to the occasion or struggle. I believe he’ll thrive. I like watching his fights—he has that fierce spirit—but it hasn’t been fully tested. ‘Robocop’ challenged him well, but I’m really going to put that to the test over five rounds. They only had three rounds before, so if he doesn’t finish me early, we’ll see what he’s truly made of.”
This article was first published on MMA Junkie: Brendan Allen explains fighting down the UFC rankings despite career momentum.
Fan Take: Brendan Allen’s situation highlights the harsh realities fighters face behind the scenes, balancing career growth with financial needs. This fight against Duncan could be a pivotal moment, not just for Allen but for showcasing how rising talent withstands pressure in the sport’s competitive middleweight division.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
