The UFC has officially announced a middleweight bout between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan for UFC Vegas 118 on June 7. Both fighters are ranked contenders in the 185-pound division. Allen has been on an impressive winning streak in recent years, while Shahbazyan is looking to rebound from previous setbacks. The matchup pits Allen's well-rounded game against Shahbazyan's striking power. This fight could have significant implications for the middleweight rankings.
The UFC has officially booked a middleweight clash between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan for UFC Vegas 118, scheduled for June 7.
Allen, known as "All In," enters the fight ranked fifth in the middleweight division and carries a record of 26-7-0. The 30-year-old American trains out of Kill Cliff FC and brings a well-rounded, pressure-based game to the cage. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, Allen lands 3.59 significant strikes per minute at a 53 percent accuracy rate, and he supplements his striking with consistent grappling output, averaging 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Shahbazyan, nicknamed "The Golden Boy," holds a 16-5-0 record and is looking to reassert himself among the division's elite. The 28-year-old, also out of the United States and training at Xtreme Couture, shares identical physical dimensions with Allen — six-foot-two and a 75-inch reach. He posts a slightly higher striking volume at 3.8 significant strikes per minute, though his accuracy sits at 48 percent. Shahbazyan also contributes on the wrestling side, averaging 1.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Allen's fifth-place ranking means a win or loss will directly reshape the top half of the middleweight standings
- Shahbazyan needs a signature victory to reclaim contender status after previous setbacks
- Both fighters are physically identical in size and reach, putting technique and cardio at a premium
- The near-matching striking volumes set up a potentially high-paced, action-heavy contest at 185 pounds
