Brendan Allen made his case for a middleweight title shot against Sean Strickland following his performance at UFC Vegas 118. Allen stated he believes he would defeat Strickland, declaring himself the new champion if the fight were made.
Brendan Allen stepped out of UFC Vegas 118 with a victory and a clear message: he wants Sean Strickland and the middleweight title that comes with him. The fifth-ranked middleweight made his case publicly after the event, declaring that he would beat Strickland and calling himself the new champion if the fight were to happen.
Allen, 30, carries a 26-7 record and has positioned himself as one of the division's most well-rounded threats. The Kill Cliff FC product stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and brings an efficient, versatile game to the octagon. He lands 3.59 significant strikes per minute at a notably sharp 53 percent accuracy, while also averaging 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — numbers that reflect genuine danger in all phases.
Standing across the hypothetical matchup is Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion out of Xtreme Couture. "Tarzan" holds a 31-7 record and at 35 years old remains one of the division's most active and durable fighters. The six-foot-one, 193-centimeter champion boasts an extraordinary output of 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute, though his 42 percent accuracy suggests volume is his primary weapon. His wrestling and submission threat are present but measured, at 0.71 takedowns and 0.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Allen's ranking at fifth in the division gives his callout legitimate divisional weight
- A potential clash of styles is evident — Strickland's relentless volume against Allen's accuracy and submission threat
- A win over the champion would represent the biggest result of Allen's career and reshape the 185-pound landscape
