Brendan Allen proved his top five middleweight standing at UFC Vegas 118, achieving a clear victory over Edmen Shahbazyan in the evening’s co-featured bout.
The initial round was characterized by a cautious pace, with both fighters showing evenness but limited action. Shahbazyan effectively countered Allen’s attempts to take the fight to the ground, but struggled to land significant strikes throughout the first five minutes.
The second round saw a similar pattern, with Allen landing the more impactful punches. While Shahbazyan began to engage more actively, maintaining parity in significant strikes landed, Allen emerged from the first two rounds with a commanding 2-0 lead.
The third round was the most competitive of the fight, but a late takedown by Allen secured his victory and solidified his position within the middleweight top five.
Official Result: Brendan Allen defeated Edmen Shahbazyan by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
Highlights from Brendan Allen vs. Edmen Shahbazyan at UFC Vegas 118:
Brendan Allen successfully defended his top 5 ranking at UFC Vegas 118, handily defeating Edmen Shahbazyan in the evening’s co-main event. The fight saw a tactical opening round with limited offense from both fighters, though Allen managed to land the more significant shots as the bout progressed. By the third round, Allen had established a clear advantage, ultimately securing a dominant unanimous decision victory. The win solidifies Allen’s position among the elite in the middleweight division.