The UFC has officially announced that Brendan Allen will face Edmen Shahbazyan on June 7 at UFC Vegas 118. The matchup will feature two middleweights looking to climb the divisional rankings. Both fighters have competed regularly in the UFC middleweight division. The post invites fans to predict the outcome of the bout. No additional context about title implications or specific stakes was provided.
Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan have been officially booked to meet at UFC Vegas 118 on June 7, with the UFC confirming the middleweight contest.
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 stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. He lands 3.59 significant strikes per minute at a 53 percent accuracy rate, and his grappling output is notable, averaging 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. That combination of striking efficiency and active submission hunting makes him one of the more well-rounded fighters in the division.
Shahbazyan, nicknamed "The Golden Boy," brings a 16-5-0 record into the bout. The 28-year-old, also American and also six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, trains at Xtreme Couture. He edges Allen in striking volume, posting 3.8 significant strikes per minute, though his accuracy sits at 48 percent. Shahbazyan also averages 1.62 takedowns per 15 minutes, showing he can impose himself on the mat when needed.
Why it matters
- Allen holds the number-five middleweight ranking, giving Shahbazyan a clear path to break into the top five with a win
- Both fighters share identical height and reach at six-foot-two and 75 inches, removing any physical size advantage on either side
- Allen's submission volume versus Shahbazyan's striking output creates a compelling stylistic contrast between a grappling-oriented game and a striking-first approach
