The middleweight division is witnessing a shift in momentum following Dricus Du Plessis’s recent championship win. With the top contenders already familiar with the title scene, a new opportunity arises for fighters ranked just below them.
This context made the co-main event between fourth-ranked Nassourdine Imavov and eighth-ranked Brendan Allen particularly crucial. The two competitors engaged in a tightly contested bout, with both utilizing effective grappling and takedowns in the opening rounds. However, Imavov gained the upper hand in the third round, delivering a series of aggressive strikes to secure a close unanimous decision victory.
Judges unanimously scored the fight 29-28, aligning with B/R’s assessment. Following his victory, Imavov expressed his ambition, stating, “In the last seven months, I’ve had three fights against three fighters who were considered contenders. My objective now is the belt. I deserve a shot at the belt because I’ve proven myself now.”
Allen started strong, executing a takedown within the first minute and maintaining control for over four minutes in the first round. However, Imavov effectively thwarted Allen’s takedown attempts in the later rounds, delivering effective strikes and maintaining control during exchanges.
This win marks Imavov’s seventh victory out of his ten fights in the UFC and his third consecutive win since January 2023.