Brendan Allen Chokes Out Duncan, Then Takes Aim at Du Plessis

Brendan Allen did what Brendan Allen does. He hunted, he stayed patient, and when the moment came in the fifth round of Saturday's UFC Vegas 122 main event at the Meta APEX, he wrapped up Christian Leroy Duncan and finished him on the mat. That's win number four in a row for the #4-ranked middleweight, now sitting at 28-7 with 15 of those wins coming by submission.

It's exactly the kind of result that keeps Allen's name in the title conversation without quite shoving him to the front of the line. Duncan, ranked #10 and riding a decision win over Jared Cannonier, came in as a genuine threat and tested Allen deep into the fight before the grappling wizard found his opening. Duncan falls to 15-3.

How the Fight Played Out

This was a slow burn, not a blowout. Duncan, who carries 10 of his 15 wins by knockout, had the striking credentials to make Allen uncomfortable on the feet, and he hung around long enough to force the fight into championship rounds. Allen, true to form, kept chipping and looking for the grappling exchanges where he lives.

By the fifth, the gap in submission acumen told the story. Allen's six career knockouts barely hint at how he actually wins fights — the man is a finishing machine on the ground, and he closed the show the way he's closed so many before it. A late stoppage in the final round is a tidy summary of his whole game: wear you down, then take what's yours.

The Du Plessis Callout

With the win secured, Allen turned his attention to the man at the top of the division, calling out champion Dricus du Plessis in what was described as an unusual style of pitch rather than a straight demand. Whether that's the fight Allen actually lands is another matter entirely.

Four straight wins is a serious streak, but Allen's position in the rankings means he may still have to defend his spot rather than cash it in for a title shot. The middleweight picture is crowded, and a submission specialist who grinds out decisions and late finishes doesn't always leap the queue the way a highlight-reel knockout artist might. Allen knows it — hence playing defense with his ranking while angling for the big one.

Elsewhere on the Card

Andre Fili reminded everyone he still has thump in his hands, scoring a brutal knockout over Kai Kamaka III. Fili, 26-14 as a featherweight and unranked, had dropped his last outing to Vinicius Oliveira by second-round TKO, so this was a needed reset for a veteran who's been around the block.

There was also a notable trend with the officiating: referees actually took points for fouls on this card, a refreshing change from the usual reluctance. In a sport where repeated infractions often go unpunished, a few firm calls stood out.

And Malcolm Wellmaker dropped his third straight loss — a useful gut-check for anyone who got carried away with the early hype around his ceiling. Momentum cuts both ways in this business.

What Comes Next

For Allen, the smart money says he's one more win — or one favorable matchup — away from the shot he's chasing. A top-five opponent would make the strongest statement if the du Plessis call doesn't materialize. Either way, four in a row at #4 is not a man you ignore.

For Duncan, this stings but shouldn't derail him. At 15-3 and only 10th in a deep division, he showed he belongs against the elite by hanging with Allen for four and a half rounds. A rebound against another ranked name keeps the sleeper-contender label intact. He was the better-finishing fighter on paper; on the night, Allen's ground game was simply the higher-level weapon.