Brendan Allen successfully defended his top-five ranking at UFC Vegas 118, delivering a commanding performance to defeat Edmen Shahbazyan in the evening’s co-headlining bout.
The initial round saw a measured pace, with both fighters displaying parity in the early exchanges. Shahbazyan demonstrated robust takedown defense as Allen attempted to take the fight to the ground. However, Shahbazyan struggled to establish his striking offense throughout the first five minutes.
The second round followed a similar pattern, with Allen landing the more significant strikes. Shahbazyan began to engage more actively, matching Allen in total significant strikes. Nevertheless, Allen emerged from the first two rounds with a decisive 2-0 lead.
The third round proved to be the most closely contested, but a late takedown executed by Allen proved to be the decisive factor, ultimately securing his victory and cementing his place in 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 defended his top-five ranking at UFC Vegas 118 with a strong win against Edmen Shahbazyan in the co-main event. While the first round was cautious, Allen landed more impactful strikes. The second round saw Shahbazyan become more active, but Allen maintained an advantage. The final round was competitive, with Allen securing a crucial takedown to seal his unanimous decision victory and solidify his spot in the middleweight top five.