Brendan Allen Dominates Edmen Shahbazyan, Eyes Title Shot After UFC Vegas 118 Victory

At UFC Fight Night 278, Brendan Allen showcased his skills against Edmen Shahbazyan, successfully defending his ranking in the middleweight division. The event took place at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, where Allen (27-7 MMA, 15-4 UFC) faced off against the unranked Shahbazyan (16-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) in the co-main event. Despite Shahbazyan's spirited performance, Allen secured a unanimous decision victory, with judges scoring the bout 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28.

The fight began with a striking-heavy first round, during which Shahbazyan appeared to gain confidence through effective jabs and leg kicks. Allen struggled to implement his game plan, having both of his takedown attempts thwarted while absorbing more strikes than he landed.

However, the second round saw a shift in momentum as Allen found his rhythm, delivering powerful punches and elbows in close quarters. While he remained unsuccessful with his takedown attempts, he inflicted damage on Shahbazyan, opening a cut and turning the tide in his favor as the match progressed.

Entering the final round, Shahbazyan's corner, led by Eric Nicksick from Xtreme Couture, urged him to step up his game. Yet, it was Allen who maintained a relentless pace, pushing Shahbazyan back and landing cleaner shots. As the fight continued, Shahbazyan's face showed signs of swelling and bleeding, while Allen kept his composure to finish strong.

With this victory, Allen notched his 14th win in UFC middleweight history, ranking third all-time behind Michael Bisping and Brad Tavares. Following the fight, he expressed his desire for a title shot, particularly a rematch with Sean Strickland, stating, "I'm a dog. I come here to fight and put on a show for all you guys. I'm coming for it, Sean." The bout served as a testament to Allen's determination as he aims for championship gold in the near future.