Morning Report: Brendan Allen is aware of ‘in my coronary heart I’m higher than Sean Strickland, ‘and I feel he does too’

Brendan Allen is turning into a critical menace within the middleweight division.

UFC Vegas 82 was one other good evening for the 27-year-old bonus collector. Tasked with a fellow gifted grappler in Scotland’s Paul Craig, Allen (23-5) pulled off a third-round rear-naked choke victory, extending his profitable streak to 6 and gathering his third Efficiency of the Evening in that stretch.

Of Allen’s six current wins, 5 have come by way of rear-naked choke. The Beaufort, South Carolina native has solely suffered defeat twice contained in the octagon, beginning with the now-champion Sean Strickland in a 190-pound catchweight in November 2020. In his 9 fights since then, Allen has made it clear he desires a rematch with “Tarzan” and is now nearer than ever to that actuality. Regardless of their banter within the time that adopted, Allen has nothing unhealthy to say concerning the champion now. Nonetheless, he nonetheless believes he’ll get redemption if granted the chance.

“I hope the UFC sees that and is aware of that I’m the following large factor,” Allen mentioned through the UFC Vegas 82 post-fight present on ESPN+. “I’ve been in there with Sean. I used to be lots youthful, I used to be much more immature mentally, and I feel I used to be nonetheless profitable that combat.

“I simply made a nasty audible, and I acquired caught. I’m pleased he’s the champion. Congratulations to him. I feel he’s a humorous man like he performs the antics, however all that apart, I do know in my coronary heart I’m higher, and I feel he does too, however we’ll see what occurs.”

Strickland’s title reign has given new life to the division, opening up issues for the elite-level mainstay contenders. First to problem the outspoken American might be one of many more energizing faces in South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis when the 2 meet within the UFC 297 most important occasion in January.

Like Strickland, Du Plessis has been a perennial underdog on his path to No. 1 contender standing. Towards the champion, Allen doesn’t really feel that ought to change.

“Dricus is the luckiest man on the earth, however I don’t assume he beats Sean,” Allen mentioned. “I feel Sean’s that man, he begins sluggish and he comes on. Stylistically, I feel Sean’s a bit an excessive amount of and a bit too skilled for Dricus. Dricus simply runs his mouth and he catches guys on bursts.

“However apart from [Robert] Whittaker, who has he beat the entire time in a combat? He’s all the time dropping and he comes again, which is nice. He can dig deep, he’s good at digging deep. Congrats to him, however I don’t personally assume he beats Sean. He undoubtedly doesn’t beat me, so I don’t fear about it.”

TOP STORIES

Competitors. PFL’s Donn Davis vows league might be MMA’s ‘co-leader’ after Bellator purchase, calls Dana White ‘apprehensive’

Strikes. PFL officially acquires Bellator MMA, reveals plans for champs vs. champs card in 2024

Wild. ‘That is HUGE for the game’: Pros react to PFL’s acquisition of Bellator

Mailbag. PFL acquires Bellator and breaking down the future going ahead

Sidelined. UFC 295 medical suspensions: 19 need medical clearance, together with Jiri Prochazka

Rankings. Is Bellator’s Patchy Mix the best bantamweight in the world?

VIDEO STEW

The MMA Hour.

Sound & Pound.

UFC Fights We’re Grateful For.

PFL Championship Struggle Week.

Full (bare-knuckle) combat.

Volk Steak Ramen.

LISTEN UP

Response. MMA Fighting’s Shaun Al-Shatti, Jed Meshew, and Damon Martin make sense of PFL’s acquisition of Bellator, and what all of it means.

On To the Subsequent One. MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Alex K. Lee focus on the matches to make after UFC Vegas 82.

MORNING MUSIC

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Tease.

Wild.

Champs.

Oh?

Cozy.

Candy.

Change.

On to one thing…?

Kicking.

Onward.

One final rodeo.

Oh.

What a time.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Marcos Rogério de Lima (21-10-1) vs. Justin Tafa (7-3, 1 NC); UFC 298, Feb. 17

FINAL THOUGHTS

Allen is beginning to look fairly legit. I feel matching him towards Jared Cannonier is the transfer subsequent.

Thanks for studying!

EXIT POLL

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