UFC star with 8 fights in a row aims for title with victory at UFC Paris

The next contender for the middleweight title could be decided this weekend, Saturday, September 28, in the co-main event of UFC Paris.

Versatile fighters Brendan Allen and Nassourdine Imavov square off in a middleweight bout with huge implications. Allen is riding an impressive eight-fight winning streak and hasn't lost a fight since his surprise loss to Chris Curtis in 2021, a defeat he avenged in April 2024.

With Israel Adesanya out of the title race following his loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 and challengers Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev busy at UFC Abu Dhabi in October, Allen believes he has a good chance of getting another title shot following the rumored rematch between Du Plessis and Sean Strickland later this year.

“If I go out there and beat Imavov, especially if I beat Imavov … then I think I've checked all the boxes except one to fight for the title,” Allen said. MMA Junkie. “And there's nothing I can do overnight to check that one box, which is followers.”

To gain even more brownie points with the UFC, Allen claimed that Imavov turned down a five-round co-main event at UFC Paris.

“It's good for both of us to be a main event,” Allen reflected on his position on the card in an interview with the UFC. “…They offered him a five-round co-main match, but he said no. And here we are, three rounds in, in his hometown, in front of his people. Everything is going for him. Everything.”

Despite his winning streak, Allen is the clear underdog going into the matchup. He has the perfect opportunity this weekend to surprise the Parisian crowd and stake his claim to the UFC title.

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