Brendan Allen solidified his position within the top five rankings at UFC Vegas 118, securing a decisive victory against Edmen Shahbazyan in the co-main event. The fight saw Allen maintain control throughout the three rounds.
The initial round was characterized by a cautious approach from both fighters. While Shahbazyan demonstrated effective takedown defense against Allen’s attempts to take the fight to the ground, he struggled to land significant strikes during the first five minutes. The second round followed a similar pattern, with Allen landing the more impactful blows. Shahbazyan did begin to open up, keeping pace with Allen in terms of significant strikes landed. However, Allen held a 2-0 lead on the scorecards after the first two rounds.
The third round proved to be the most competitive of the bout. Nevertheless, a late takedown by Allen proved to be the decisive factor, securing his victory and maintaining his top-five standing in the middleweight division.
Official Result: Brendan Allen def. Edmen Shahbazyan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
