‘I Know In My Heart I’m Better, And I Think He Does Too’

Brendan Allen still believes he can beat the Middleweight champion.

Allen picked up a big win last night at UFC Vegas 82 (Sat., Nov. 18, 2023) when he submitted Paul Craig in the third round via rear-naked choke from inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas (watch highlights). Allen picked up a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus and improved his win streak to six.

After his fight, Allen called for a No. 1 contender matchup for his next outing because he deserves it, whether it be Robert Whittaker, Jarred Cannonier, or Khamzat Chimaev – he doesn’t care who. With a six-fight win streak, being 10-1 in the division, and having the second most submissions in the Middleweight division, it is hard to argue against him.

While he doesn’t care who he fights next, he eventually wants to rematch the Middleweight champion, Sean Strickland.

“I hope the UFC sees and knows that I am the next big thing,” Allen told the UFC Post Show. “I’ve been in there with Sean. I was a lot younger, and I was immature mentally. And I think I was still winning that fight. I just made a bad audible, and I got caught. I’m happy he’s the champion. Congratulations to him. I think he’s a funny guy like he plays the antics, but all that aside, I know in my heart I’m better, and I think he does too, but we’ll see what happens.”

Strickland knocked Allen out at UFC Vegas 14, and “All In” has been chasing Strickland ever since. If Allen keeps running through the Middleweights that the promotion puts in front of him, then Strickland vs. Allen 2 could happen sooner rather than later.

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For complete UFC Vegas 82 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.