Брендан Аллен тав дахь раундад Кристиан Лерой Дунканыг арын боолтоор буулган авлаа

This is the live blog for Brendan Allen vs. Christian Leroy Duncan, the middleweight main event for Saturday’s UFC Vegas 122 fight card at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.

Currently ranked No. 4 in the UFC’s middleweight rankings, Allen nevertheless finds himself in a bit of a no man’s land, near the top of the division but outside of the title picture. Despite a three-fight win streak, Allen doesn’t seem to be gaining much traction toward an actual title run, and now he must defend his position against the surging Duncan.

Currently ranked No. 10 in the middleweight division, “CLD” is riding a five-fight winning streak as he charges up the 185-pound rankings. Coming off a unanimous decision win over former title challenger Jared Cannonier, Duncan now wants to take Allen’s place in the middleweight top five and announce himself as a serious title challenger.

Check out the live blog for Allen vs. Duncan below.

Preamble

Alright, y’all. Time to do the thing. This card, well, it’s been fine. Not sure we’ll talk about it for years to come, but it’s been fair enough. Now, let’s bring this thing home.

Pre Fight

CLD is walking out, and he’s the picture of confidence. Not cocky, just confident.

Allen walking in with a little more energy, intensity. He looks like a man walking to a fight.

Joe Martinez gets things going. CLD paces while he’s announced. Allen staring him down. They meet in the middle for final instructions and touch gloves. Go time!

Round 1

Allen starts with a low kick, and CLD gets right after him with combinations, then hs own low kicks. Pace right out of the gate from both men. Allen lands a good one to the body. CLD clinches and now they’re jockeyin for position. CLD pushes Allen to the fence. Knees from CLD. A couple of good body punches, too. Allen has no offense, just tying up here.

Well, the rip-roaring start has slowed down. And there it goes! Allen pivots and gets a trip, taking CLD down! CLD trying to use the fence but Allen tries to sneak to the back. He can’t but he ends up on top. CLD powers up to his feet, but Allen holding the waistlock. He elevates, but can’t finish the takedown. Allen hanging on to the waist while CLD tries to work the hands. Eventually he does, breaks grip and he ends up clinching again.

CLD working punches while Allen goes for a knee. Allen talking to referee Marc Goddard in there. He turns the position. CLD turns back and lands a knee as they break. CLD right after him with pressure. Allen lands a good punch but CLD with a nice elbow. Spinning elbow from CLD hits the guard but seems to rattle Allen nonetheless. He’s retreating. They both dig in and then separate. More work from each man in close as the round ends.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Duncan.

Round 2

Allen and Goddard arguing with each other before the round. That’s good. Very focused.

But Allen looks prescient as CLD pokes him in the eye early in the round. We break. CLD gets warned from Goddard, and he takes a point!!!! WOW, a referee doing his job!!!

We restart the action and CLD is going to work with long strikes. Allen trying to pressure, but CLD is moving and landing nicely. Allen proving very durable though; he’s walking through this fire. Allen getting a bit rote, just pressuring with the right hand. No takedowns, minimal variety.

CLD definitely faster. Allen lands a low kick and CLD might be slowing. He’s breathing now. And Allen lands a sharp right hand. Clinch knees from Allen and he changes levels and gets the takedown in space. Allen immediately passes guard to side control. Now he’s trying to set up an arm-triangle, but CLD is wise to it. But Allen holding this position in space, while CLD is just trying to defend hands. CLD turns and Allen moves to the back.

CLD rolls back. Allen with a few short shots. CLD is bleeding. Allen working the gift wrap, moving to mount. CLD trying to wigle to the fence but Allen is all over him. Small shots from Allen. He tries to feed the RNC, but it failed. CLD showing solid defense, but no ability to escape. So this is just miserable for him as Allen wears him down. Big response from Allen.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-8 Allen, 19-18 Allen overall.

Round 3

CLD comes out charging but Allen quickly gets the takedown! This could get bad. OHH! CLD reverses! Allen went chasing the sub, and CLD turned him. Now CLD is on his back. He starts working, but it’s short-lived. Allen is able to reverse the position and now he’s on top and in CLD’s guard. Mistake from CLD to stay grappling there.

Annnnd, this could be the end. Maybe not of the fight, but of CLD’s chances. Allen is going to work on top, and CLD is not trying to get up. He’s playing defense, eating elbow and punches. Slowly but surely, Allen is burying him. This is classic Brendan Allen.

Allen has great top pressure. He’s not landing a ton, but he is smothering CLD. And he finally passes to side control. But he chases the submission again and CLD explodes out! Allen right back on him, but CLD sprawls. He’s not breaking away though. Allen rolling under for a reverseal, but CLD trying to land elbows from the top. He’s landing a few, but Allen starts a leg entanglement to sweep. CLD defends and flattens Allen out. He lands a good elbow. A few more before the round ends. Nice momentum swing for CLD there.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Allen, 29-27 Allen overall.

Round 4

CLD’s corner wants him sticking and moving. He looks tired, but not completely gassed. Allen is gonna try to put it on him though, I’d imagine.

CLD sticking front kicks to start as Allen pressures him back. Allen also looking slower now. And his output has dropped. OH!! Allen lands a big left hook! CLD seems OK, but that one sent him stumbling away. CLD just touching with kicks now. Keeping it light, scoring. Allen walking him down, but not a ton of output. CLD running away at times.

Allen still hasn’t shot yet. Eats an elbow. CLD winning the round because Allen isn’t throwing enough. He lands a good left, but CLD is landing 3 to 1, even as he’s wilting. Allen lands a good left. He smiles and taunts CLD. Allen senses that CLD is breaking. And he sure does look like he’s tired. But Allen still has to score here. Elbow from Allen. CLD with a nice combo. Allen falling in love with these elbows in close. CLD’s hands are down now. He keeps throwing though.

90 seconds for Allen to steal this round. But he’s simply not throwing. Waiting for the perfect opportunity. And they aren’t coming. Allen punting this round away, and he hasn’t won this fight yet. CLD digging deep to keep throwing.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Duncan, 38-37 Allen overall.

Round 5

CLD with pep in his step. Allen talked about his ribs in the corner. Might have broken one. But CLD lands a nice knee there. Allen getting a bit wild with his swings. CLD popping that jab. He’s found a second wind. Allen refusing to wrestle and he may lose the fight because of it.

CLD tagging him now. And Allen finally shoots. He drives CLD to the fence. CLD stays upfight, but Allen holding the waist. CLD fighting the hands. Allen can’t get him down. He finally drags CLD down on top of him. CLD fighting off the backpack. But Allen keeps working, to get there.

OH!!!!! Allen sneaks the arm under the chin while CLD is fighting the feet!!! That’s under there!!!!!!

CLD doing everything he can to fight this off!!! Allen has the body locked up and he’s squeezing! CLD to a side. He’s moving! He’s fighting! He doesn’t want to tap!!!!!! But he has no choice!!!!

What a finish!!!

Official Decision

Brendan Allen def. Christian Leroy Duncan via submission (rear-naked choke) — 2:46, Round 5

Post Fight

“He’s tougher than I thought. … I just couldn’t get out of the fog. Felt a little slow tonight. But we got it done.”

Allen talks about wanting to be active, fighting young, hungry guys on the rise. He then says he thinks he’ll be rewarded for his next bout. He calls for a title shot or Dricus du Plessis next.