Brendan Allen Submits Duncan, Calls Out Du Plessis

Brendan Allen forced Christian Leroy Duncan to tap out to a rear-naked choke in the fifth round of their UFC Vegas 122 main event, then called out former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis in his post-fight interview.

The finish came late at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas on October 10, closing out a back-and-forth fight that went the distance of rounds without going the distance of the clock. It's the kind of finish that's become a calling card: Allen has made a habit of choking people out in the final rounds of fights, and he did it again when Duncan looked like he might survive to the scorecards.

What Brendan Allen's Win Over Christian Leroy Duncan Means for the Middleweight Rankings

Brendan Allen extended his winning streak to four straight with the stoppage of Christian Leroy Duncan, who had won five in a row inside the Octagon before Saturday. That's a real scalp. Duncan came in on a genuine roll, and Allen didn't just beat him, he finished him in the championship rounds of a five-round main event, which is as strong a statement as a non-title fight allows. Allen has now strung together enough quality wins that his call for a shot at the top of the division isn't coming out of nowhere.

Why Brendan Allen Wants Dricus du Plessis Next

Brendan Allen used his platform after the finish to single out Dricus du Plessis, the former UFC middleweight champion, as the fight he wants next. Du Plessis lost the belt earlier this year, which puts him in a spot where a bounce-back opponent with momentum and name value makes sense on paper. Allen has been here before, calling for marquee fights while the matchmakers lean toward other names, and he made clear after this one that he's done waiting his turn quietly.

Whether the UFC actually makes that fight is the open question. Du Plessis is coming off a title loss and has leverage of his own to pick his next step, and a rankings reshuffle at 185 pounds could easily point him toward a different name. But Allen's case got stronger Saturday night regardless of who's next: four wins in a row, a finish over a fighter who hadn't lost in five outings, and a submission resume that keeps piling up.

Betting Angle

Allen's style, patient, grinding, always hunting the choke late, makes him a tough stylistic matchup for sportsbooks to price cleanly against fighters who fade in later rounds. He's shown again that letting a fight get deep against him is a live finish risk even when he's behind on output. If a du Plessis fight does get made, expect the line to hinge heavily on how the market views du Plessis off a title loss versus a surging, finish-threat contender who just beat a ranked-caliber foe inside the distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Brendan Allen beat Christian Leroy Duncan at UFC Vegas 122?

Brendan Allen finished Christian Leroy Duncan with a rear-naked choke submission in the fifth round of their UFC Vegas 122 main event on October 10.

Who did Brendan Allen call out after beating Christian Leroy Duncan?

Brendan Allen called out former UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis in his post-fight interview following the win.

What was Brendan Allen's winning streak after UFC Vegas 122?

The win over Christian Leroy Duncan extended Brendan Allen's winning streak to four straight fights in the UFC.