Brendan Allen Tells Sean Strickland to Vacate After UFC Vegas 122 Win
Brendan Allen went after Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis in a fired-up callout after submitting Christian Leroy Duncan.
Brendan Allen did not wait long after choking out Christian Leroy Duncan to fire shots at the top of the middleweight division.
In his Octagon interview with Michael Bisping, Allen called out both the champion and the former champion. "Where's the champion? If not, where's Dickus, you've been running for a little while. If not, Mike, put your belt back up," Allen said, per LowKick MMA.
Allen was not done. On his way back to the dressing room, he addressed UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland directly. "Sean, where the f--k you at?" Allen said. "And if not, go ahead and vacate and let me and Imavov get that s--t."
The message was clear. Allen wants Strickland's next fight to be against him. If Strickland will not take the fight, Allen wants the belt vacated so he can face Nassourdine Imavov for the undisputed middleweight title.
Allen has earned the right to be frustrated. He is on a four-fight winning streak, has 15 UFC wins this decade, and just became the first fighter to stop Duncan. He is 30 years old and running out of patience.
Strickland has been publicly feuding with the UFC over fighter pay and has not fought since reclaiming the title. Whether Allen's callout moves the needle with the matchmakers remains to be seen, but the crowd at the Apex was behind him.
I love this from Allen. The man just went five hard rounds, finished a tough opponent, and instead of playing nice on the mic he went straight at both Strickland and du Plessis. That is what you are supposed to do when you have been grinding for years and the guys above you are not fighting.
Strickland's pay dispute with the UFC is his business. I get it. But you cannot hold up an entire division while you negotiate. Allen, Imavov, du Plessis, these guys are ready to fight right now. If Strickland does not want to defend, vacating is not an insult. It is the right thing to do.
Allen calling for a vacant title fight against Imavov is smart, too. That is a legitimate number-one contender fight that the fans would buy. The UFC needs to stop letting the middleweight division sit in limbo and give Allen the opportunity he has earned.
