# Brendan Allen

Brendan Cody Allen (born December 28, 1995) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2015, he has also competed for the Legacy Fighting Alliance, where he is a former Middleweight Champion. As of March 18, 2025, he is #11 in the UFC middleweight rankings.

## Background

Allen was born to Michelle and James Allen of Louisiana. Allen has an older brother. Brendan started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu when he was 13 after watching a jiu-jitsu class with his brother. In high school Allen started competing in Mississippi after he had some training in wrestling and boxing. Allen attended university at Southeastern Louisiana University, majoring in criminal justice. He later joined Clementi's Gladiator Academy to train in mixed martial arts. After winning the IMMAF 2015 Amateur Middleweight Championship, Allen turned to compete in professional MMA.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Allen started his professional MMA career in 2015 and fought under various promotions in the South. He was the Legacy Fighting Alliance middleweight champion twice, defeating Tim Hiley and Moses Murrietta at LFA 50 and LFA 61, respectively.

### Dana White's Contender Series

Allen appeared in Dana White's Contender Series 20 on July 16, 2019, facing Aaron Jeffery. He won the fight via a submission in the first round. With this win, he was awarded a UFC contract.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

In his UFC debut, Allen was scheduled to face Eric Spicely on October 18, 2019, at UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman. However, Spicely was forced to withdraw from the event due to an undisclosed reason. Allen instead faced Kevin Holland. He won the fight via a submission in round two.
Allen's next fight came on February 29, 2020, facing Tom Breese at UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs. Figueiredo. He won the fight by TKO in the first round.
Allan was scheduled to face Ian Heinisch on June 27, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker. However, Heinisch pulled out of the match up in mid-June citing an injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Kyle Daukaus. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
The bout between Heinisch and Allen was rescheduled to November 7, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira. On the day of the event, the UFC announced the bout was once again canceled due to Heinisch testing positive for COVID-19.
Replacing Heinisch and having fought two weeks prior, Sean Strickland took on Allen on November 14, 2020, in a Catchweight (195 lb) bout, at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos. Allen lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.
Allen faced Karl Roberson on April 24, 2021, at UFC 261. He won the bout via ankle hook submission at the end of the first round.
Replacing injured Anthony Hernandez, Allen faced Punahele Soriano on July 24, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw. Allen won the fight via unanimous decision.
Allen was scheduled to face Brad Tavares on December 4, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo. Tavares pulled out in mid November and was replaced by Roman Dolidze. In turn Dolidze was forced to pull from the bout due to complications in his recovery from COVID-19 and he was replaced by Chris Curtis. Allen lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.
Allen faced Sam Alvey, replacing Phil Hawes, in a Light Heavyweight bout, on February 5, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 200. He won the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the second round.
Allen faced Jacob Malkoun on June 11, 2022, at UFC 275. He won the bout via unanimous decision.
Allen faced Krzysztof Jotko on October 1, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Yan. He won the bout at the end of the first round, submitting Jotko via rear-naked choke. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Allen faced André Muniz on February 25, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 220. He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in round three. This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus.
Allen was scheduled to face Jack Hermansson on June 3, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 46. However, Hermansson withdrew in late April due to an undisclosed injury and the bout was cancelled.
Allen faced Bruno Silva on June 24, 2023 at UFC on ABC 5. He won the bout in the first round via a rear-naked choke submission.
Allen faced Paul Craig on November 18, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 232. He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round. With this win, he earned a Performance of the Night award.
Allen was scheduled to face Marvin Vettori on April 6, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 240. However on March 14, it was announced that Vettori had withdrawn due to an injury, and was replaced by Chris Curtis in a rematch and again on short notice. Allen won the fight by split decision.
Allen faced Nassourdine Imavov on September 28, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 243. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Allen faced former LFA Middleweight Champion Anthony Hernandez in a rematch on February 22, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 252. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

## Grappling career

Allen faced Caio Borralho on February 28, 2025 in a submission match at Karate Combat 53. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

## Personal life

Allen and his wife Suzette had their first daughter, Brenleigh, in November 2019. Their second daughter, Emme, was born in November 2021.

## Championships and accomplishments

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Performance of the Night (Three times) vs. Krzysztof Jotko, André Muniz & Paul Craig
** Second most submissions in UFC Middleweight division history (6)
** Tied (Charles Oliveira) for the third longest submission streak in UFC history (4)
** Tied (Charles Oliveira & Renato Moicano) for fourth most rear-naked choke submissions in UFC history (6)
* Legacy Fighting Alliance
** LFA Middleweight Champion (One time) vs. Tim Hiley and Moses Murrietta.
*** One successful defense
* International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF)
** IMMAF 2015 Amateur Middleweight Champion

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 31 matches | 24 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 5 | 2 |
| By submission | 14 | 1 |
| By decision | 5 | 4 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 24–7 | Anthony Hernandez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song | February 22, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Seattle, Washington, United States | |
| Loss | 24–6 | Nassourdine Imavov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis | September 28, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Paris, France | |
| Win | 24–5 | Chris Curtis | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Curtis 2 | April 6, 2024 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 23–5 | Paul Craig | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig | November 18, 2023 | 3 | 0:38 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 22–5 | Bruno Silva | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ABC: Emmett vs. Topuria | June 24, 2023 | 1 | 4:39 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 21–5 | André Muniz | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Muniz vs. Allen | February 25, 2023 | 3 | 4:25 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 20–5 | Krzysztof Jotko | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Yan | October 1, 2022 | 1 | 4:17 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 19–5 | Jacob Malkoun | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 275 | June 11, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | Return to Middleweight. |
| Win | 18–5 | Sam Alvey | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland | February 5, 2022 | 2 | 2:10 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Light Heavyweight debut. |
| Loss | 17–5 | Chris Curtis | TKO (punches and knees) | UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo | December 4, 2021 | 2 | 1:58 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–4 | Punahele Soriano | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw | July 24, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 16–4 | Karl Roberson | Submission (ankle lock) | UFC 261 | April 24, 2021 | 1 | 4:55 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 15–4 | Sean Strickland | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos | November 14, 2020 | 2 | 1:32 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (195 lb) bout. |
| Win | 15–3 | Kyle Daukaus | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker | June 27, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 14–3 | Tom Breese | TKO (elbows and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs. Figueiredo | February 29, 2020 | 1 | 4:47 | Norfolk, Virginia, United States | |
| Win | 13–3 | Kevin Holland | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman | October 18, 2019 | 2 | 3:38 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Win | 12–3 | Aaron Jeffery | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Dana White's Contender Series 20 | July 16, 2019 | 1 | 3:23 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–3 | Moses Murrietta | Decision (unanimous) | LFA 61 | February 22, 2019 | 5 | 5:00 | Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States | Defended the LFA Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–3 | Tim Hiley | Submission (rear-naked choke) | LFA 50 | September 21, 2018 | 3 | 3:16 | Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States | Won the vacant LFA Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–3 | Larry Crowe | TKO (punches) | LFA 43 | June 22, 2018 | 1 | 2:06 | Beaumont, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 8–3 | Anthony Hernandez | Decision (unanimous) | LFA 32 | January 26, 2018 | 5 | 5:00 | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States | For the vacant LFA Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–2 | Chris Harris | Submission (triangle choke) | LFA 18 | August 4, 2017 | 2 | 1:22 | Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Loss | 7–2 | Eryk Anders | Decision (unanimous) | LFA 14 | June 23, 2017 | 5 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | For the inaugural LFA Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–1 | Jon Kirk | TKO (punches) | LFA 3 | February 10, 2017 | 1 | 2:46 | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States | |
| Win | 6–1 | Sidney Wheeler | Submission (keylock) | Valor Fights 3 | December 2, 2016 | 2 | 0:29 | Knoxville, Tennessee, United States | Won the VF Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–1 | Matt Jones | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Mid City Fight Productions 2 | September 23, 2016 | 1 | 3:34 | Avondale, Louisiana, United States | |
| Win | 4–1 | Clovis Hancock | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Legacy FC 58 | July 22, 2016 | 2 | 1:54 | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States | |
| Win | 3–1 | Charlie Rader | Submission (rear-naked choke) | WFC 52 | May 14, 2016 | 1 | 3:26 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States | |
| Loss | 2–1 | Trevin Giles | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Legacy FC 52 | March 25, 2016 | 2 | 1:47 | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Kory Moegenburg | TKO (punches) | WFC 46 | January 9, 2016 | 1 | 4:03 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States | Middleweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0 | Zebulon Stroud | TKO (punches) | WFC 42 | August 22, 2015 | 1 | 4:40 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States | Welterweight debut. |