The UFC has officially announced a middleweight bout between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan for UFC Vegas 118 on June 7. Both fighters will look to secure a strong performance in the 185-pound division. The matchup pits Allen's well-rounded game and recent winning streak against Shahbazyan's power and knockout ability. The post invited fan predictions about the outcome, asking whether Allen or Shahbazyan would emerge victorious. No further details about fight placement on the card were provided.
The UFC has made it official: Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan will meet at middleweight when UFC Vegas 118 takes place on June 7.
Allen, known as "All In," enters the bout ranked fifth in the middleweight division and carrying a 26-7 record. The 30-year-old American trains out of Kill Cliff FC and brings a genuinely well-rounded skill set to the Octagon. He lands 3.59 significant strikes per minute at a sharp 53 percent accuracy rate, while also generating consistent grappling pressure with 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, Allen has built his reputation on being difficult to finish and dangerous in every phase.
Shahbazyan, nicknamed "The Golden Boy," is the 28-year-old Xtreme Couture product who carries a 16-5 record into the matchup. He shares identical measurements with Allen — six-foot-two, 75-inch reach — and similarly fights out of an orthodox stance, setting up a mirror-image physical contest. Shahbazyan edges Allen slightly in striking volume at 3.8 significant strikes per minute, though his 48 percent accuracy reflects a more aggressive, power-oriented output. He also generates 1.62 takedowns per 15 minutes, suggesting he is willing to mix levels when needed.
Why it matters
- Allen's number-five ranking means a strong win could push him closer to title contention in a competitive 185-pound division.
- Shahbazyan needs a decisive performance to reestablish himself among the elite after a difficult stretch in his career.
- The identical physical profiles and orthodox stances put the outcome squarely in the hands of execution and game-planning rather than athletic mismatch.
- Both fighters carry finishing ability across multiple disciplines, raising the stakes for an early stoppage.
