Brendan Allen successfully defended his position within the top five of the middleweight division at UFC Vegas 118, achieving a commanding victory over Edmen Shahbazyan in the co-main event.
The initial round saw a measured pace with both fighters showing tentative exchanges. Shahbazyan demonstrated effective takedown defense against Allen’s attempts to take the fight to the ground, but struggled to establish a consistent striking offense during the first five minutes.
The second round followed a similar pattern, with Allen landing the more significant strikes. Although Shahbazyan began to open up, matching Allen in total significant strikes, Allen emerged from the first two rounds with a clear advantage.
The third round proved to be the most closely contested of the bout. However, a late takedown by Allen solidified his victory, ensuring his continued presence in the middleweight top five.
Official Result: Brendan Allen defeated Edmen Shahbazyan by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
