The UFC has officially announced a middleweight bout between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan for June 7 at UFC Vegas 118. The matchup features two established middleweights looking to climb the division rankings. No further details about the full card or the fighters' recent preparations have been disclosed. This will be an important fight for both men as they seek to position themselves for higher-profile opportunities.
The UFC has made official a middleweight clash between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan, scheduled for June 7 at UFC Vegas 118.
Allen, nicknamed "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 stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. An orthodox fighter, Allen lands 3.59 significant strikes per minute at a 53 percent accuracy rate, and he complements his striking with an active grappling game, averaging 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Shahbazyan, known as "The Golden Boy," brings a 16-5-0 record into the cage and trains at Xtreme Couture. The 28-year-old also stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and shares Allen's orthodox stance, making this a physically mirrored matchup. He averages 3.8 significant strikes per minute, though his striking accuracy sits at 48 percent, and he adds a takedown threat of 1.62 per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Allen's fifth-place divisional ranking means a strong performance could push him firmly into title contention
- Shahbazyan needs a marquee win to reassert himself as a legitimate middleweight contender after a bumpy stretch on his record
- The near-identical physical dimensions shift the focus to technical execution and grappling strategy
- Both fighters carry real finishing ability across striking and wrestling, raising the stakes for an entertaining contest
