“All-In” is looking forward to testing another prospect.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight contender Brendan Allen returns to action against red-hot up-and-comer Christian Leroy Duncan in the main event of UFC Vegas 122 this weekend (Sat., Oct. 10, 2026) inside Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Once again, Allen has been tasked with defending his place in the rankings against a dangerous opponent positioned beneath him.
Allen wanted to fight up the Middleweight ladder, but with no higher-ranked
matchups available — and former champion Dricus du Plessis unwilling to fight him — “All-In” accepted whoever UFC put in front of him.
Sitting on the sidelines was not a realistic option.
“I kind of have a set timeline for when I want to fight — let’s just say October — and I want to fight up,” Allen said during UFC Vegas 122 media day. “Obviously, everyone wants to fight up, but if there’s no one available, then whoever is next in line.
“This is kind of how it’s fallen these last two fights,” Allen continued. “I don’t want to sit out and wait. I don’t have the means, honestly. I don’t have these sponsors paying me thousands of dollars a month where I can sit out and just wait. I want to fight around a timeline, so whoever is available and whoever wants to fight, that’s who gets it. So far, it’s been guys down the rankings.”
Enter “CLD.”
Duncan enters the biggest opportunity of his career riding a five-fight winning streak and carrying considerable momentum. Allen recognizes his opponent’s talent and expects him to embrace the pressure rather than crumble beneath it.
“I think he’s talented, but I think he’s very green when it comes to his career,” Allen said. “I think this is a big, big step up for him, and I’m expecting him to be one of those guys who takes that step up, takes that pressure and that opportunity, and really thrives.
“Sometimes you see guys fall, and sometimes you see guys thrive,” Allen continued. “I think he’s a guy who’s going to thrive.”
That does not mean Allen expects Duncan to survive the full 25 minutes.
Duncan’s toughness was previously tested by Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues, but that fight lasted only three rounds. Allen intends to push him much deeper on Saturday night.
“I’m super excited to go out there and test that,” Allen said. “When I watch his fights, he kind of has that dog in him, but it’s never been fully tested. ‘Robocop’ did a good job of testing it, but I’m really going to test it.”
“It’s five rounds. They only had three,” Allen added. “Five rounds, man. He better hope he catches me early because if he doesn’t catch me early, we’re really going to see what he’s made of.”
Allen is speaking from experience.
His only two knockout losses inside the Octagon came in the second round against Sean Strickland and Chris Curtis. Both defeats occurred approximately five years ago, and Allen has since shared the cage with several dangerous power punchers without suffering the same fate.
“All-In” enters UFC Vegas 122 riding a three-fight winning streak, with two of those victories earning “Fight of the Night” honors.
Duncan may be the more explosive fighter early, but Allen believes every passing minute will tilt the matchup further in his favor.
If “CLD” cannot catch him early, the prospect’s toughness is finally going to receive the full five-round examination.
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