The UFC has officially announced a middleweight bout between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan for UFC Vegas 118 on June 7, 2026. Both fighters are established contenders in the 185-pound division. The matchup pits Allen's well-rounded skill set against Shahbazyan's striking power. No further details about the card or bout positioning were provided in the announcement. The post invited fans to predict the winner via reactions.
The UFC has made it official: Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan will collide at middleweight when UFC Vegas 118 takes place on June 7, 2026.
Allen, known as "All In," enters the bout ranked fifth in the middleweight division and carries a 26-7-0 record. The 30-year-old American trains out of Kill Cliff FC and brings a well-rounded game to the cage. He lands 3.59 significant strikes per minute at a 53 percent accuracy rate, and his grappling threat is constant, averaging 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. At six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he owns the physical tools to compete across all phases.
Shahbazyan, nicknamed "The Golden Boy," is 28 years old and holds a 16-5-0 record. He trains at Xtreme Couture and is recognized for his striking power at 185 pounds. He actually edges Allen in striking volume, landing 3.8 significant strikes per minute, though his accuracy sits at 48 percent. The Xtreme Couture product shares identical measurements with Allen — six-foot-two and a 75-inch reach — making this a strikingly even match on paper in terms of physical profile.
Why it matters
- Allen enters as the ranked fifth contender, meaning a strong performance could push him closer to title contention
- Shahbazyan, a former highly touted prospect, needs a signature win to re-establish himself among the division's elite
- Both fighters are orthodox and share the same height and reach, placing the tactical and technical edge at a premium
- The grappling dimension adds intrigue, as Allen's submission threat contrasts with Shahbazyan's more limited ground offense
