The middleweight bout between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan has been officially confirmed for June 7 at UFC Vegas 118. This matchup represents a significant contest in the middleweight division. Both fighters will look to advance their positions in the rankings with a victory. The post does not provide additional details about the fighters' current situations or fight specifics.
Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan are officially booked to meet at middleweight on June 7 at UFC Vegas 118, with both men looking to strengthen their standing in a competitive 185-pound division.
Allen, nicknamed "All In," enters the fight ranked fifth in the middleweight division with a 26-7 record. The 30-year-old American trains out of Kill Cliff FC and brings a well-rounded skill set to the cage. He lands 3.59 significant strikes per minute at a 53 percent accuracy rate, while also averaging 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — numbers that reflect genuine danger across all phases of a fight. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he is a physical presence at the weight class.
Shahbazyan, known as "The Golden Boy," carries a 16-5 record into the bout and trains out of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. The 28-year-old American stands identically to Allen at six-foot-two with a matching 75-inch reach, and the two share the same orthodox stance. Shahbazyan actually edges Allen in striking output, landing 3.8 significant strikes per minute, though his accuracy sits at 48 percent. He also averages 1.62 takedowns per 15 minutes, suggesting he is comfortable mixing levels as well.
Why it matters
- Allen's fifth-place ranking means a decisive win could push him into title contention territory
- Shahbazyan, without a current divisional ranking, needs a statement victory to re-enter the top-15 conversation
- Identical physical measurements and overlapping styles — both Orthodox strikers comfortable with takedowns — set up a closely contested tactical battle
- A win for either fighter over a ranked or previously hyped opponent carries significant weight in a stacked middleweight division
