Brendan Allen traveled to Khamzat Chimaev's training camp for sparring sessions. The post includes video footage showing their sparring exchange in the cage. Details about the specific outcomes or Allen's performance during the sparring are limited in the announcement.
Brendan Allen made his way to Khamzat Chimaev's training camp for a series of sparring sessions, with video footage from inside the cage surfacing on April 14, 2026, to confirm the collaboration between two of the middleweight division's more dangerous fighters.
Allen, ranked fifth at 185 pounds, carries a 26-7-0 record and represents Kill Cliff FC out of the United States. The 30-year-old stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and has built a reputation as one of the division's more well-rounded threats, landing 3.59 significant strikes per minute at 53 percent accuracy while also averaging 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Chimaev, ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, is the man Allen traveled to meet. The 32-year-old representing the UAE and Allstars Training Center holds a 15-1-0 record and brings elite-level wrestling pressure to every fight, averaging a remarkable 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. His striking is equally sharp, with 4.04 significant strikes per minute landing at 60 percent accuracy.
The two share identical measurements — both six-foot-two with 75-inch reaches — making for a physically mirrored sparring dynamic.
Why it matters
- Allen is ranked just four spots below Chimaev, making this a high-stakes training partnership between two legitimate middleweight contenders.
- Chimaev's elite takedown volume of 5.29 per 15 minutes presents a demanding test for Allen's submission and grappling defense.
- Allen's own submission threat, averaging over one attempt per 15 minutes, means the exchanges on the ground carry risk for both parties.
- Footage of the session adds credibility to both fighters' preparation cycles heading into their respective campaigns.
