Michael Bisping thinks Arnold Allen going after Max Holloway is a risky move.
With Allen (17-1 MMA, 10-0 UFC) left out of the upcoming interim featherweight title fight, the streaking Brit suggested a win over former champion Holloway probably would be better than claiming the interim title.
Since 2014, Holloway (23-7 MMA, 19-7 UFC) has knocked off every featherweight contender and only has lost to reigning featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. So with Holloway’s stacked resume, Bisping thinks Allen could jeopardize his position in the title race.
“It’s a tough fight for both men, but it’s a gamble for Arnold Allen,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “Arnold Allen is this close to a title fight, and granted, if you can’t beat everyone, then maybe you don’t deserve to be champion. But a manager will say, ‘Hold on a minute – you’re within spitting distance of the belt. Why are you going to risk that by fighting Max Holloway, who’s one of the best ever at featherweight – a guy that other than Volkanovski, seemingly can beat everyone else in the division?’
“We don’t know about Arnold. Maybe Arnold wins. But as I say, when you’re that close and Holloway isn’t the champion, is the next best fighter in the division potentially – it’s a gamble. It’s a risk.”
The promotion decided to pit Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett for an interim title fight at UFC 284 on Feb. 11, the same night featherweight champion Volkanovski goes after a second belt by challenging lightweight champ Islam Makhachev.
Allen remained unbeaten in the octagon when he defeated Calvin Kattar by TKO in the UFC Fight Night 213 headliner in October.
