# Arnold Allen

Arnold Billy Allen (born 22 January 1994) is an English professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of 17 September 2024, he is #7 in the UFC featherweight rankings.

## Background

Born and raised in Suffolk, Allen began training in mixed martial arts as a teenager and took part in several amateur fights before turning professional in 2012.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

He made his professional debut competing as a featherweight for various regional promotions across Great Britain, including a stint in Cage Warriors. He was able to compile a record of 9–1 in his first three years along the way.
After his TKO stoppage of Paul Cook in November 2014, Allen signed with the UFC.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Allen made his promotional debut on 20 June 2015 as a short notice replacement filling in for an injured Mike Wilkinson against Alan Omer at UFC Fight Night 69. After probably dropping the first two rounds, Allen won the fight via submission in the third round. He was also awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.
Allen next faced Yaotzin Meza on 27 February 2016 at UFC Fight Night 84. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Allen was expected to face Mirsad Bektic on 8 October 2016 at UFC 204. However, due to injury, Allen withdrew from the fight and was replaced by Russell Doane.
Allen faced Makwan Amirkhani on 18 March 2017 at UFC Fight Night 107. He won the fight by split decision.
Allen was scheduled to face Enrique Barzola at UFC 220 on 20 January 2018. However, Allen was pulled from the fight on 11 January due to alleged visa issues which restricted his ability to travel. Following this announcement, It was determined that Allen would be replaced by Matt Bessette at UFC 220.
Allen faced Mads Burnell on 27 May 2018 at UFC Fight Night 130. He won the fight via front choke submission in the third round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Allen was expected to face Gilbert Melendez on 30 November 2018 at The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale. However, Melendez pulled out of the fight on 5 November and was replaced by Ricky Glenn. In turn, Allen pulled out of the fight on 16 November citing a cut he received while training.
Allen faced Jordan Rinaldi on 16 March 2019 at UFC Fight Night 147. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Allen faced Gilbert Melendez on 6 July 2019 at UFC 239. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Allen was expected to face Josh Emmett on 25 January 2020 at UFC Fight Night 166. However Emmett was pulled from the event for an undisclosed reason, and he was replaced by Nik Lentz whose original featherweight opponent also dropped out of the event. Allen won the fight via unanimous decision. Lentz would later claim he lost 40% of his vision after being poked in the eye by Allen.
Allen was scheduled to face Jeremy Stephens on 7 November 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira. However, Stephens was forced to withdraw from the event, citing injury. In turn, the bout was cancelled.
Allen faced Sodiq Yusuff on 10 April 2021 at UFC on ABC 2. After knocking Yusuff down twice, he won the fight via unanimous decision.
Allen faced Dan Hooker at UFC Fight Night 204. He won the fight via technical knockout in the first round. With this win, he received the Performance of the Night award.
Allen faced Calvin Kattar on 29 October 2022 at UFC Fight Night 213, winning via technical knockout following a knee injury to Kattar.
Allen faced former UFC Featherweight champion Max Holloway on 15 April 2023 at UFC on ESPN 44, where he lost via unanimous decision, ending his win streak in the UFC.
Allen faced Movsar Evloev on 20 January 2024, at UFC 297. In a competitive bout, he lost by unanimous decision.
Allen faced Giga Chikadze on 27 July 2024, at UFC 304. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

## Personal life

Allen was issued a five-month suspended sentence after he pleaded guilty to affray, for his role in a 23 December 2016 brawl near Ipswich which left a man and five women injured.

## Championships and accomplishments

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Performance of the Night (Three times) vs. Alan Omer, Mads Burnell and Dan Hooker
** Third longest win streak in UFC Featherweight division history (10)

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 23 matches | 20 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 7 | 0 |
| By submission | 4 | 0 |
| By decision | 9 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 20–3 | Giga Chikadze | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 304 | July 27, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Manchester, England | |
| Loss | 19–3 | Movsar Evloev | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 297 | January 20, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| Loss | 19–2 | Max Holloway | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Holloway vs. Allen | April 15, 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 19–1 | Calvin Kattar | TKO (knee injury) | UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Allen | October 29, 2022 | 2 | 0:08 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 18–1 | Dan Hooker | TKO (punches and elbows) | UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall | March 19, 2022 | 1 | 2:33 | London, England | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 17–1 | Sodiq Yusuff | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland | April 10, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 16–1 | Nik Lentz | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos | January 25, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Raleigh, North Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 15–1 | Gilbert Melendez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 239 | July 6, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 14–1 | Jordan Rinaldi | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Till vs. Masvidal | March 16, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Win | 13–1 | Mads Burnell | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Till | May 27, 2018 | 3 | 2:41 | Liverpool, England | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 12–1 | Makwan Amirkhani | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Manuwa vs. Anderson | March 18, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Win | 11–1 | Yaotzin Meza | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping | February 27, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Win | 10–1 | Alan Omer | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Jędrzejczyk vs. Penne | June 20, 2015 | 3 | 1:41 | Berlin, Germany | Return to Featherweight. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 9–1 | Paul Cook | TKO (doctor stoppage) | M4TC 15: Bad Blood | November 29, 2014 | 2 | 5:00 | Tyne and Wear, England | Lightweight debut. Won the M4TC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–1 | Gaetano Pirello | Decision (unanimous) | Cage Warriors 71 | August 22, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Amman, Jordan | |
| Loss | 7–1 | Marcin Wrzosek | Decision (unanimous) | Cage Warriors 69 | June 7, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Win | 7–0 | Tobias Huber | TKO (punches) | Cage Warriors: Fight Night 11 | April 18, 2014 | 1 | 0:37 | Amman, Jordan | |
| Win | 6–0 | Doni Miller | TKO (punches) | Cage Warriors 61 | December 13, 2013 | 2 | 0:34 | Amman, Jordan | |
| Win | 5–0 | Declan Williams | Submission (triangle choke) | Cage Warriors 60 | October 5, 2013 | 2 | 4:50 | London, England | |
| Win | 4–0 | Andy Green | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Cage Warriors 56 | July 6, 2013 | 1 | 4:00 | London, England | |
| Win | 3–0 | Carl Orriss | Decision (unanimous) | UCMMA 32 | February 2, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 2–0 | Kim Thinghaugen | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UWC 21: Xplosion | October 20, 2012 | 1 | 5:00 | Southend-on-Sea, England | |
| Win | 1–0 | Nathan Greyson | KO (punch) | UCMMA 27 | April 7, 2012 | 2 | 0:40 | London, England | Bantamweight debut. |