Duncan Camp Specifically Requested Brendan Allen Fight

Christian Leroy Duncan specifically requested a matchup with Brendan Allen for UFC Vegas 122, with his coach Mark Weir revealing that Allen was "the top of Christian's list" when the team submitted its fight requests to the UFC.

Duncan headlines the card Saturday riding a five-fight winning streak and carrying real momentum in the middleweight division, but he steps in as the betting underdog against Allen despite being the one who asked for the fight. Weir explained that Duncan's camp sends a top-five list of preferred opponents to the UFC after every win, submitted during what he called the "war room" on the Tuesday following a fight.

"He (Allen) was at the top of Christian's list," Weir told BloodyElbow. "Every time we fight, we send a top five list over to the UFC. The war room is on a Tuesday, so we do it literally straight away. We never expect to get the number one pick, but we ask anyway."

Why Duncan Keeps Calling His Own Shots

This is not the first time Duncan has gotten the opponent he asked for, and that pattern is becoming the real story of his rise. His win over Jared Cannonier, which snapped the veteran's momentum and pushed Duncan into the middleweight conversation, came from the same request process. Weir says it's now a trend.

"If I remember rightly, I think the last three times we've asked for someone, they've been given to us," Weir said. "We are aiming high and there's a risk factor for everyone who's fighting but so far, Christian's done his job."

That willingness to call out ranked opponents rather than wait for the matchmakers to pick for him says plenty about how Duncan's team views his trajectory. At 15-2 overall and 8-2 in the UFC, with wins over Roman Dolidze and Eryk Anders already on his resume, Duncan has built his case fight by fight against names the division respects. Allen, a top contender in his own right, represents the biggest marker yet, and a win puts Duncan directly in the title conversation at 185 pounds.

Betting Angle

Duncan opening as roughly a +108 underdog on FanDuel despite requesting this fight himself tells bettors exactly how the market views the step up in competition. Books are pricing Allen as live favorite partly on name recognition and ranking, but also because Allen's grappling pedigree and durability have given plenty of middleweights trouble. For bettors, the interesting angle is that Duncan's camp is choosing danger on purpose. A fighter picking his own hardest fight and still getting a plus number suggests oddsmakers see a live, competitive main event rather than a showcase. Given Duncan has delivered each time he's gotten what he asked for, from Dolidze to Cannonier, there's an argument for value on the underdog here, though Allen's ceiling against a fighter who hasn't faced a grappler of his caliber is the obvious counter for anyone backing the favorite.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Christian Leroy Duncan fighting Brendan Allen at UFC Vegas 122?

Duncan's team specifically requested Brendan Allen, submitting him at the top of their list of preferred opponents to the UFC, according to coach Mark Weir.

What is Christian Leroy Duncan's record heading into UFC Vegas 122?

Christian Leroy Duncan is 15-2 overall and 8-2 in the UFC, riding a five-fight winning streak that includes a decision win over Jared Cannonier.

Is Christian Leroy Duncan the betting favorite against Brendan Allen?

No, Duncan enters UFC Vegas 122 as the underdog at around +108 on FanDuel despite having requested the matchup himself.