Pinas Pokes at Allen, Floats 2027 Middleweight Clash

Damian Pinas has set his sights on a future matchup with Brendan Allen, telling the UFC middleweight he spotted a weakness to exploit even while praising his latest win.

Allen (28-7) submitted Christian Leroy Duncan (15-3) in the fifth round to headline UFC Vegas 122 on Saturday at Meta Apex in Las Vegas, running his winning streak to four. Pinas posted his support for Allen shortly after the finish, writing "Lets go Allen" on X. A fan read it as a callout and fired back, accusing Pinas of calling his shot before facing ranked competition. Pinas shot that down fast, clarifying he meant it as support, not a challenge.

He didn't leave it there, though. In a follow-up post, Pinas said he came away impressed by Allen's performance but made clear he still sees a path to beating him, tagging the hashtag #allenVsPinas and a 2027 timestamp.

Who Is Damian Pinas and Why Is He Calling Out Brendan Allen

Damian Pinas is an 11-1 middleweight prospect who has looked close to unstoppable since arriving in the UFC. He earned his contract through Dana White's Contender Series and has since reeled off three straight first-round knockouts inside the promotion, most recently finishing Andrey Pulyaev at UFC 332 on Oct. 3. That kind of finishing rate at this stage of a career is rare, and it explains why Pinas feels comfortable floating his name next to an established name like Allen's, even with a title shot conversation nowhere close for either man yet.

Allen, meanwhile, just turned in one of the better performances of his career, taking apart Christian Leroy Duncan over five rounds before locking up the finish. Four wins in a row have him firmly in the middleweight mix, and a callout from a hot prospect like Pinas, even a good-natured one, is a sign of how his stock is rising around the division.

What a 2027 Timeline Says About This Matchup

The date Pinas picked, 2027, tells you this is more marker-laying than a real callout. Nobody is booking that fight anytime soon, and Pinas himself went out of his way to clarify he wasn't trying to jump the line. For now, it reads as a prospect putting his name on the radar of a fighter he clearly respects, while reminding everyone he's not afraid to share a cage with him down the road.

From a betting standpoint, there's nothing to price here yet since no fight has been made, but it's worth watching how oddsmakers and matchmakers view Pinas once he starts facing ranked opposition. A perfect finishing record draws attention fast in this sport, and so does a middleweight willing to call his shot at a name as established as Brendan Allen's.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Damian Pinas call out Brendan Allen?

Damian Pinas said his post supporting Brendan Allen after his UFC Vegas 122 win was not a callout, though he later floated a hypothetical 2027 matchup between the two middleweights.

What happened in the Brendan Allen vs. Christian Leroy Duncan fight?

Brendan Allen submitted Christian Leroy Duncan in the fifth round to win the UFC Vegas 122 main event on Oct. 11, extending his winning streak to four.

What is Damian Pinas' UFC record?

Damian Pinas is 11-1 overall and has won three straight fights by first-round knockout since joining the UFC through Dana White's Contender Series.