A middleweight bout between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan has been officially announced for UFC Vegas 118 on June 7. The fight will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Both fighters compete in the middleweight division. The post asked fans to vote with reactions on who they believe will win the matchup. No additional details about rankings or implications of the fight were provided in the announcement.
A middleweight clash between Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan has been made official for UFC Vegas 118, scheduled for June 7 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Allen, known as "All In," enters the fight ranked fifth in the middleweight division and carries a record of 26-7-0. 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, he lands 3.59 significant strikes per minute at a 53 percent accuracy rate, while also posing a consistent threat on the ground with 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Shahbazyan, nicknamed "The Golden Boy," holds a 16-5-0 record and trains out of Xtreme Couture. The 28-year-old is also American-born and shares an identical physical profile with Allen — six-foot-two and a 75-inch reach. He is slightly busier on the feet, averaging 3.8 significant strikes per minute, though his striking accuracy sits at 48 percent. Shahbazyan averages 1.62 takedowns per 15 minutes but attempts submissions far less frequently than his opponent.
Why it matters
- Allen holds the No. 5 middleweight ranking, meaning a strong performance could move him closer to title contention
- Both fighters are physically identical in height and reach, setting up a closely matched technical contest
- Allen's submission threat contrasts with Shahbazyan's striking-first approach, creating an interesting style dynamic on the feet and on the mat
- A win for Shahbazyan would represent a significant step back toward the upper tier of a competitive division
