Brendan Allen UFC Vegas 118: ‘All In’ Aims to Stun Shahbazyan and Fast-Track a Middleweight Title Shot

Riding a two-fight finish streak, Brendan “All In” Allen enters UFC Vegas 118 this Saturday with momentum, a fresh camp philosophy, and a chip on his shoulder. The No. 5-ranked middleweight meets unranked knockout artist Edmen Shahbazyan in a matchup Allen accepted “immediately,” prioritizing activity and a paycheck after higher-ranked foes dodged his call-outs. Allen’s confidence stems from back-to-back statement wins: a July decision over former title challenger Marvin Vettori in his home state of Louisiana and an October corner-stoppage of ex-ONE double champ Reinier de Ridder that propelled him into the top five. Yet instead of a contenders’ clash, he’s again forced to “defend his spot,” something he says he’s done “more than anyone in my division”. To keep evolving, the 30-year-old Louisianian relocated recent camps to Chicago, training under Mike Valle alongside welterweight stalwart Belal Muhammad. The smaller, detail-oriented room, Allen says, gives him “individualized attention,” keeping him sharp without the wear of daily gym wars. Stylistically, Allen’s grappling arsenal (seven UFC submissions) collides with Shahbazyan’s early-storm power. Allen owns a 14-4 Octagon record, while “The Golden Boy” resurged in 2025 with three straight finishes. Allen insists there’s “nothing to prove”—only a win to secure: “A win is a win… nothing matters if we don’t get in the win column”. Victory keeps Allen in the title conversation as champion Sean Strickland and top contender Dricus du Plessis prepare for their own summer showdown. With the division’s elite booked, a highlight over Shahbazyan could position Allen for the No. 1-contender bout he’s been begging for since 2024. Key SEO takeaways: • Brendan Allen vs. Edmen Shahbazyan co-mains UFC Vegas 118 on June 6 at Meta APEX, Las Vegas. • Allen ranks No. 5 at UFC middleweight after finishing Reinier de Ridder. • Chicago’s Valle Flow Striking now anchors Allen’s fight camps. • A decisive finish could earn Allen the long-awaited title eliminator. Fans can stream UFC Vegas 118 live on Paramount+ (8 p.m. ET main card).