Allen submits Duncan in UFC main event, calls out division's best

          • Brett OkamotoOct 10, 2026, 11:25 PM ET
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              Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
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          LAS VEGAS -- UFC middleweight Brendan Allen defended his position in the rankings again Saturday night, snapping Christian Leroy Duncan's five-fight winning streak with a submission victory.

          Allen (28-7) submitted Duncan (15-3) with a rear-naked choke at 2:46 of the fifth round at UFC Fight Night inside Meta Apex. It was the second consecutive bout in which Allen, ESPN's No. 5-ranked middleweight, fought significantly down the rankings in an effort to stay active. He has sought matchups against the best of the division, particularly former champion Dricus Du Plessis, but has failed to land one.

          Before Saturday's win over Duncan, who is No. 10 in ESPN's rankings, Allen snapped Edmen Shahbazyan's three-fight winning streak in June.

          "I've fought two young guys -- hungry prospects back-to-back -- because nobody else wants to fight," Allen said. "I'm the real No. 4 [in the division]. I've defended my spot. I'm doing what I need to do. Where is the champion? And if not, where is [Du Plessis]?"

          The finish, Allen's eighth by submission in the UFC, came after he methodically worked to Duncan's back in the final round. Allen was up on the scorecards at the time but only because Duncan had a point deducted for an eye poke in the second round. The bout was back-and-forth throughout, with Allen getting the better of Duncan on the floor but Duncan leading the striking exchanges.

          According to UFC Stats, Duncan outlanded Allen 138-80 in total strikes, but Allen countered with nearly nine minutes of control time. Duncan's best shots came in the first and fourth rounds, including a spinning elbow in the opening minutes that briefly had Allen on the defensive. Duncan couldn't find a long-term answer to Allen's wrestling, however, and struggled to maintain distance in the crucial final round.

          Allen, who fights out of Louisiana, has speculated that a lack of popularity with the fans might be responsible for him not booking the biggest fights. He will be very hard to deny now with wins in 11 of his past 13 appearances.

          Duncan, of Gloucester, England, specifically asked to fight Allen and would likely have broken into the top five with a win. His UFC record falls to 8-2 with five wins by knockout.