LAS VEGAS – Brendan Allen has no interest in light heavyweight.
The 26-year-old made his 205-pound debut Saturday on the main card of UFC Fight Night 200. Allen (18-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) took the fight on short notice and submitted Sam Alvey, sending Alvey to 0-7-1 his past eight fights.
Alvey was originally scheduled to fight Ian Heinisch at middleweight, but was then given Allen after injuries saw Heinisch and replacement Phil Hawes forced out of the event.
Despite clocking a win a new weight class, Allen has no interest in staying at light heavyweight and plans to continue his UFC career at 185 pounds.
“I’m just going to keep my unfinished business at 185 (pounds),” Allen told reporters at the UFC Fight Night 200 post-fight news conference. “I still have business to come at 185. I have the best manager in the game, Ali (Abdelaziz) and Dominance MMA, so I’m going to let him take over. Whenever he says go, that’s where I’ll go. But in 2022, shooters shoot – and I’m shooting.”
Allen said Alvey had no surprises for him and he knew what to expect from the longtime UFC fighter.
“I knew what he was going to throw,” Allen said. “I just had to get that timing. I haven’t really been doing anything, to be honest. My management didn’t really want me to take the fight because of it. I had other things going on. We knew what he was going to come with. He’s a true veteran. I have nothing but respect.”
