The UFC has officially announced a middleweight bout between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan for June 7 at UFC Vegas 118. The fight announcement confirms the matchup between these two middleweights. No further details about the card placement or other fights were provided in the announcement. Fans are being polled on their prediction for the outcome of this matchup.
The UFC has officially booked a middleweight clash between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan for UFC Vegas 118 on June 7.
Allen, known as "All In," enters the fight ranked fifth in the middleweight division and carries a record of 26-7. The 30-year-old American trains out of Kill Cliff FC and brings a well-rounded skill set to the cage. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, the orthodox fighter 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 — a combination that makes him dangerous in all phases.
Shahbazyan, nicknamed "The Golden Boy," comes in at 16-5 and is looking to reassert himself as a contender in a stacked 185-pound division. The 28-year-old trains at Xtreme Couture and shares identical physical dimensions with his opponent — six-foot-two and a 75-inch reach. Shahbazyan edges Allen slightly in striking output, averaging 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 taking the fight to the ground when needed.
Why it matters
- Allen's top-five ranking means a win for either fighter carries significant divisional weight
- Both men are nearly identical physically, putting the emphasis squarely on technical execution and fight IQ
- Allen's submission threat versus Shahbazyan's takedown volume sets up a compelling grappling dynamic
- A victory for Shahbazyan would mark a meaningful step in his bid to return to the upper tier of the middleweight rankings
