The UFC has officially announced a middleweight bout between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan scheduled for June 7 at UFC Vegas 118. This matchup features two ranked middleweights looking to climb the divisional ladder. Allen has been on an impressive winning streak, while Shahbazyan seeks to rebound and prove himself among elite competition. The announcement was made with a poll asking fans to predict the outcome. No further details about the fight card were provided in the original post.
The UFC has made official a middleweight clash between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan, with the two ranked 185-pound contenders set to meet on June 7 at UFC Vegas 118.
Allen, known as "All In," enters the bout as the number-five ranked middleweight and one of the division's most consistent performers. The 30-year-old American out of Kill Cliff FC carries a record of 26-7-0 and brings a well-rounded skill set to the cage. Fighting out of an orthodox stance at six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, Allen lands 3.59 significant strikes per minute at a 53 percent accuracy rate, while also threatening regularly on the ground with 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Shahbazyan, nicknamed "The Golden Boy," is looking to reassert himself among the division's elite. The 28-year-old Xtreme Couture product holds a 16-5-0 record and shares an identical physical profile with Allen — six-foot-two, 75-inch reach, orthodox stance. Shahbazyan is slightly busier on the feet, averaging 3.8 significant strikes per minute, though he connects at a 48 percent clip.
Why it matters
- Allen's number-five ranking means a victory could push him into title contention discussions
- Shahbazyan needs a marquee win to re-establish himself as a serious divisional threat after recent setbacks
- Both fighters are nearly identical physically, making this a true style matchup decided by execution rather than athletic mismatch
- The ground game could be pivotal — Allen attempts submissions at nearly three times Shahbazyan's rate, while Shahbazyan's takedown rate slightly edges Allen's
