The Ultimate Fighting Championship is set to end its pre-Thanksgiving schedule with a bang at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday, featuring UFC Fight Night 232. This solid show serves as an excellent lead-up to the final run of the year 2023. The middleweight category will certainly have fans on the edge of their seats as Scottish submission specialist, Paul Craig, after finding success in cutting down to 185 pounds against Andre Muniz, takes on Brendan Allen in the five-round headline event. This fight night event also includes a women’s strawweight tilt that would see Luana Pinheiro go head to head with Amanda Ribas, a highlight of the main draw.
Other thrilling numbers on the card include high-upside prospects that promise to render the event even more exciting. Prominent among them is the gifted welterweight, Michael Morales, who shines in the co-main event. Making his promotional debut is bantamweight newcomer Payton Talbott, another fighter to look forward to. UFC Fight Night “Allen vs. Craig” is building up to be a memorable preview for the fight enthusiasts.
Middleweights Brendan Allen and Paul Craig will compete with high stakes. After executing a surprisingly successful run at light heavyweight, Craig now has a chance to demonstrate his potential in the middleweight division. Since his signing with UFC in 2016, he has always been a source of thrilling bouts, with a fight plan biased towards low-percentage submissions usually from his back. However, he managed to turn the tables with wins over Jamahal Hill and Nikita Krylov, boosting his credibility as a title contender. Following losses to Volkan Oezdemir and Johnny Walker, Craig moved down to 185 pounds, where he won over Muniz.
On the other hand, 27-year-old Allen’s impressive journey on the UFC stage for the past four years stands as a testament to his fighting skills. He has been everything except clinching the victory that would land him in title contention. Allen has a fearless approach with some awe-inspiring wins against Kevin Holland and Tom Breese. He lost to the reigning champ, Sean Strickland, which, however, only led him to become a better fighter. His breakthrough win over Muniz in February shows his potential. A win over Bruno Silva later landed him in his highest-profile spot yet against Craig. There’s a lot at stake in this match, with both fighters having credible battling skills. The fight is likely to end with Allen dominating Craig and scoring a punishing finish, expected to be a second-round stoppage.