The UFC has officially announced a middleweight bout between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan for UFC Vegas 118 on June 7. The matchup represents a significant middleweight contest between two ranked contenders in the division. Both fighters will look to climb the rankings with a victory in this matchup. The post originally sought fan predictions on the outcome, indicating strong interest in this stylistically compelling bout between two talented middleweights.
The UFC has made official a middleweight showdown between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan, scheduled for UFC Vegas 118 on June 7.
Allen, known as "All In," enters the bout ranked fifth in the middleweight division and carries a 26-7-0 record. The 30-year-old American, who trains out of Kill Cliff FC, is a well-rounded threat who lands 3.59 significant strikes per minute at a 53 percent accuracy rate — among the more efficient outputs in the division. He also averages 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him dangerous in all phases of the fight.
Shahbazyan, nicknamed "The Golden Boy," holds a 16-5-0 record and trains at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. The 28-year-old is a fellow American who shares identical physical dimensions with Allen — both stand six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach — creating an intriguing mirror matchup on paper. Shahbazyan averages 3.8 significant strikes per minute, though his 48 percent accuracy suggests he operates at a higher volume. He also averages 1.62 takedowns per 15 minutes, slightly edging Allen in that category.
Why it matters
- Allen's fifth-place ranking means a convincing win could push him into title contention territory
- Shahbazyan needs a statement victory to re-establish himself as a serious divisional force after a mixed run of results
- Both fighters share identical height and reach, shifting the edge to conditioning, timing, and game planning
- The well-rounded skill sets on both sides — grappling, striking, and submission threats — set up a technically rich contest at 185 pounds
