Top Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight contender Brendan Allen makes his first appearance of the year when he takes on unranked knockout artist Edmen Shahbazyan in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 118 this weekend (Sat., June 6, 2026) inside the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
So, the optics of the matchmaking weren’t great.
However, it turns out Allen accepted the fight immediately when UFC approached him with it, mainly because he wanted to get paid and because Dricus du Plessis never accepted his callout.
But because he accepted a dangerous fight against an unranked opponent, does Allen feel appreciated by UFC and the fans?
“No, I really haven’t felt anything, to be honest,” Allen told reporters during UFC Vegas 118 media day. “I’ve defended my spot many, many times, probably more than anyone in my division — outside the top 15 or in it. I win one, and then I have to defend two or three times, then go back. If I lose, then it is like four times. There is always a longer road for me, and I don’t know why. Maybe I’m not that much of a likable guy, I guess. It is what it is.”
“This is my 19th UFC fight, I’m 14-4 in the promotion, and I’ve fought the best guys I can fight,” Allen added. “I’ve only asked for the best guys that I could get. I hope they appreciate what I do, and I know that they know I’ve stepped up many times — when I shouldn’t have — but I still step up. And when I sign the contract, I’m going to fight.”
While a win over Shahbazyan doesn’t do a ton for Allen in terms of rankings, it does keep him active and paid — and it keeps him in the title conversation if he gets through another dangerous opponent.
“All In” is hoping that, with another win, UFC finally rewards him with the kind of fight he has been asking for: a No. 1 contender bout.
To checkout the latest and greatest UFC Vegas 118: “Muhammad vs. Bonfim” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
