Brendan Allen Says He and Chimaev Will Only Fight for the Belt
Allen reveals a pact with the former middleweight champion: no fight unless a UFC title is on the line.
Brendan Allen says he and Khamzat Chimaev have an agreement: they will not fight each other unless a UFC middleweight title is on the line.
"We have the agreement that we're not going to fight each other unless it's for gold," Allen told MMA Junkie Radio, per Sherdog. "So, if it's for the belt, then we're gonna fight."
Allen is coming off a win over Christian Leroy Duncan at UFC Vegas 122, extending his UFC winning streak to four. He has positioned himself as a legitimate contender in the middleweight division and sees a title shot within reach.
Chimaev, meanwhile, is coming off his first professional defeat. He lost the middleweight championship to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in May and has been pushing for a rematch. That road may not be straightforward, as Nassourdine Imavov appears to be next in line for a shot at Strickland's belt.
The pact between Allen and Chimaev creates an interesting dynamic at 185 pounds. If both fighters continue winning, one of them could be positioned as a top contender while the other holds or chases the belt. But matchmaking rarely bows to gentlemen's agreements, and the UFC has never been shy about booking the fights it wants regardless of what the fighters prefer.
Allen made it clear that the stakes are personal. A championship, he said, would change his life and his family's.
I love this kind of pact. Two killers at 185 saying "we are not wasting this fight on a number one contender bout." Smart business. A title fight pays more, draws more eyeballs, and means more on your resume.
But here is reality: the UFC does not care about your handshake deals. If the matchmakers decide Allen versus Chimaev makes sense as a title eliminator, that is what they are going to book. Ask Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal how their friendship pact worked out.
Chimaev already lost the belt to Strickland. Imavov is in line ahead of him. Allen has won four straight but has not beaten a top-five name yet. The road to the title might run through each other whether they like it or not.
I respect the loyalty, but at some point, money and the belt are going to matter more than the agreement. That is how this sport works.
