UFC star Arnold Allen believes he could be as close as one fight away from an opportunity at the featherweight title.
The No.6-ranked fighter is hot on the heels of champion Alexander Volkanovski, and hasn't lost in 11 fights, nine of which have come in the UFC. And he feels that if he can get one high-quality victory in his next outing, he could be headed towards a world title opportunity.
He landed a statement first round knockout of veteran Dan Hooker at UFC London, cementing his place as one of the top featherweights in the world. And the fact that he so quickly stopped his opponent after a three-year run without a finish made him all the more exciting of a prospect, as well as earning him a cool $50,000 bonus.
"Finishing Dan Hooker is definitely the career highlight for me," Allen told Mirror Fighting after the victory. "One hundred per cent, I've had a lot of decisions in the UFC so I was really looking for that statement finish over someone like Dan it couldn't really be better.
"People questioned my power for a long time and all that, and this fight I showed that I can hit hard too - I'd like to be back out again in the summer around August time. I want to be champion so it's not the time for ducking and diving people, I want to fight upwards and that's the goal.
"I think I'm one good win away [from a title shot], I like everyone in the top 5 as a next opponent, they're all good fights for me."
Allen's win over Hooker was branded "utterly dominating" by the legendary former champion Michael Bisping on commentary, and it landed him a considerable bonus from the promotion.
"It's a special feeling," he explained of the moment the fight was stopped after he brutalised the New Zealand fighter from start to finish. "I did the classic throw your gumshield and everything and shout at people.
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"After three years of no event in London, nothing in the UK, it was pretty special to have it back. You could kind of tell everyone had all that pent up excitement for a big event. It was a special event, really something special to be a part of."
And while he is anxious to ascend the division and get a shot at a world title, he's unsure if he'd be able to make the quick turnaround for a short notice replacement should anything happen to Alexander Volkanovski or Chan Sung Jung in their scheduled bout next week.
He's currently nursing a hand injury, and joked that he would struggle to make the 145lb weight limit. "I don't know if I could make 145lb," he laughed when the suggestion was brought up. "That's the biggest problem. I guess everyone's injuries heal up when there's a title shot.
"Koren Zombie [the nickname by which Chang Sung Jung is referred] was injured but he seemed to heal up pretty quick, I'd have to get in the sauna right now. I always said I'd never say no to a title shot but we'll see."
