The UFC has officially announced a middleweight bout between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan for June 7 at UFC Vegas 118. The post asks fans to predict how the matchup will conclude. No additional details about the card or whether this is a main or co-main event were provided. Both fighters are established middleweights looking to climb the rankings.
The UFC has officially announced a middleweight clash between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan, scheduled for June 7 at UFC Vegas 118.
Allen enters the bout ranked fifth in the middleweight division and carrying a 26-7 record. The 30-year-old American, who trains out of Kill Cliff FC, has built a reputation as one of the more well-rounded fighters in the 185-pound weight class. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he lands 3.59 significant strikes per minute at a 53 percent accuracy rate and supplements his striking with 1.56 takedowns per 15 minutes, along with a submission threat that averages 1.1 attempts per 15 minutes.
Shahbazyan, known as "The Golden Boy," comes in at 16-5 and trains out of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. The 28-year-old is an identical physical match for Allen — also six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach — and actually edges him slightly in striking volume at 3.8 significant strikes per minute. His takedown output sits at 1.62 per 15 minutes, though he attempts submissions far less frequently than his opponent.
Why it matters
- Allen holds the fifth-ranked spot at middleweight, meaning a win for Shahbazyan could push him firmly back into title contention range
- The physical symmetry — identical height, reach, and orthodox stances — puts the stylistic edge on full display with no obvious physical advantages for either man
- Both fighters blend striking with grappling, setting up a competitive and technically layered contest across all phases
