Paul Craig has always been regarded more as an oddity rather than a serious contender in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. With a fight on the horizon, this sentiment could well shift. The Scottish submission specialist is set to face off with Brendan Allen, the former champion of the Legacy Fighting Alliance at the headlining event of UFC Fight Night 232. The bout will be held on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and with both men on the edge of breaking into the top tier of the middleweight category, the stakes are high. Craig, a 35-year-old light heavyweight, dropped down to 185 pounds in July and secured a win over Andre Muniz with a well-executed flurry of elbows, marking the end of a two-fight losing streak. Allen also comes in on a strong note, riding on the back of five consecutive wins.
Allen, 27, has an impressive record of 10-2 in the UFC. The majority of his 51 fights with Craig haven’t gone to judges, going the distance only eight times. He is also part of the Kill Cliff Fight Club. His last fight was a first-round win against Bruno Silva, a former M-1 Global titleholder. Allen won via a rear-naked choke, demonstrating his submission skills. This showdown will have a significant impact on the middleweight division and is one of the many exciting events to look out for at UFC Fight Night 232.
However, there’s more to look forward to than just the Allen-Craig match. The growing Latin American arena has been a fertile ground for mixed martial arts and it seems that another potential star has been discovered in Michael Morales. The undefeated Ecuadorian is staking his squeaky-clean 15-0 record against Jake Matthews. The engaging welterweight co-main event is expected to be Morales’ biggest challenge yet. Morales, fresh off Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021, has posted victories over Trevin Giles, Adam Fugitt, and Max Griffin. This young dynamo, who recently celebrated his 23rd birthday in June, is on a collision course with a UFC veteran in Jake Matthews. As for Matthews, he chalked up a rear-naked choke win over Darrius Flowers at UFC 291. The looming question remains, can the youthful Morales continue his ascent or will Matthews stall his progress.
Another exciting prospect is Payton Talbott, an undefeated 25-year-old who is making his promotional debut against Nick Aguirre. The three-round welterweight showcase could signal the trajectory of Talbott’s immediate future at 170 pounds. He previously made his UFC entrance with a unanimous decision win over Reyes Cortez Jr. Meanwhile, Amanda Ribas is returning to the women’s strawweight division to take on rising countrywoman Luana Pinheiro. Ribas has had a promising start in UFC but her inconsistent performance has left many questioning her championship potential. Last but not least, Rafael Estevam is another prospect making his Octagon debut. The unblemished 11-0 fighter from Nova Uniao is set to go up against former LFA champion Charles Johnson. UFC Fight Night 232 is shaping up to a night of high stakes and high drama.