The UFC has officially announced a middleweight bout between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan for June 7 at UFC Vegas 118. The matchup pits two established middleweights against each other in what should be a significant fight in the division's rankings. Both fighters will be looking to gain momentum and climb the ladder toward title contention. The fight is expected to be a key feature on the card. No further details about the main event or other fights on UFC Vegas 118 have been disclosed at this time.
The UFC has officially booked a middleweight showdown between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan for June 7 at UFC Vegas 118, with both fighters looking to push their way deeper into title contention at 185 pounds.
Allen, nicknamed "All In," enters the bout as the No. 5-ranked middleweight in the UFC. The 30-year-old American, representing Kill Cliff FC, carries an impressive 26-7-0 record and has established himself as one of the division's most well-rounded threats. 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 averaging 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — a grappling volume that makes him dangerous across all phases of a fight.
Shahbazyan, known as "The Golden Boy," represents Xtreme Couture and carries a 16-5-0 record into the matchup. The 28-year-old is physically identical to Allen — also six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and an orthodox stance. Shahbazyan is slightly more active in the striking department, averaging 3.8 significant strikes per minute, though his accuracy sits at 48 percent. He also contributes on the grappling side, averaging 1.62 takedowns per 15 minutes, though his submission attempts are notably lower than Allen's at 0.4 per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Allen's No. 5 ranking means a strong performance could push him into title eliminator territory at middleweight
- Both fighters share nearly identical physical profiles, making the stylistic edge all the more difficult to predict
- The grappling-versus-striking blend from both men sets up a technically complex matchup with legitimate finishing potential on the ground and standing
