Brendan Allen

Brendan Cody Allen (born December 28, 1995) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing 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 June 11, 2024, he is #7 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.

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 is scheduled to face Nassourdine Imavov on September 28, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 245.

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 third longest submission streak in UFC history (4)
 * Tied (Charles Oliveira & Renato Moicano) for third most rear-naked submissions in UFC history (6)
 * Tied (Francis Carmont, Sean Strickland & Caio Borralho) for the seventh longest win streak in UFC Middleweight division history (6)
 * Tied (Francis Ngannou) for the sixth highest win percentage in UFC history (85.71%: 12 wins / 2 losses)
 * Legacy Fighting Alliance
 * LFA Middleweight Champion (Two times) vs. Tim Hiley and Moses Murrietta.
 * International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF)
 * IMMAF 2015 Amateur Middleweight Champion

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