Brendan Allen’s got his eyes on the prize. He’s pretty convinced that beating Marvin Vettori should clear his path straight to a middleweight title shot.
You see, Allen’s not just any fighter. Ranked No. 7 in the UFC middleweight division, he’s gearing up to headline UFC Fight Night 240. And guess who’s waiting for him in the ring? None other than the No. 5-ranked Marvin Vettori. This showdown’s happening April 6 at the UFC Apex in Vegas.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Allen, also known as “All-In,” is betting big on himself. A win over Vettori (19-7), he reckons, could either catapult him directly into title contention or, at the very least, earn him a crack at the No. 1 title contender spot.
Talking to MMA Junkie, the 28-year-old laid it out. “I feel it’s based on my performance,” he said. If he can finish Vettori and make it look like a walk in the park, he’s pretty sure he’ll throw his hat in the ring for a title shot. But, worst-case scenario? He’s looking at a true No. 1 contender fight next. “It really comes down to me,” he added, oozing confidence.
Allen’s not just talking big. He’s on a six-fight winning streak, with five of those wins coming by submission. Remember his latest victory over Paul Craig at UFC Fight Night 232 last November? Yeah, that was him.
Vettori, on the other hand, has had a mixed bag of results lately, going 3-3 in his last six outings. But don’t let that fool you; the losses came against some top-tier opponents.
Ideally, Allen wanted a rematch with Sean Strickland, the guy who handed him a Round 2 TKO back in 2020. But, he’s not too fussed about it. The newly crowned champ, Dricus Du Plessis, is also on his radar. “I’ve been wanting to fight him since he got to the UFC,” Allen mused. He’s a bit skeptical about how Du Plessis got his hands on the belt, though. “Did he earn it? Is it his belt?” Allen pondered, leaving the question hanging.
But at the end of the day, for Allen, it doesn’t matter who’s holding the belt. When it’s his turn, he’s ready to take on whoever wears the crown.