Middleweight contenders meet again at UFC Vegas 90.
To continue on with his future at the top of the division, Brendan Allen must first overcome his past: a TKO loss to Chris Curtis in 2021. Fast forward three years and Allen has the chance to avenge his last loss in his second-straight UFC main event.
After losing to Curtis, Allen racked up six wins in a row and can tie current champion Dricus Du Plessis for the longest active win streak in the middleweight division at 7. The American was slated for a higher-ranked opponent in Marvin Vettori but the #6 contender will have to settle for #14-ranked Curtis instead.
At least, Allen got purple letters on his shorts for this fight (the first fighter to do so), purple being a color he’s been campaigning to wear for several years. I asked Dana White at the UFC 299 post-fight press conference about this and it seems the promotion finally came through, although Allen wanted his trunks to be full purple.
‘The Action Man’ enters his first UFC headliner this weekend. It’s been quite the journey for Curtis, who has competed in 40+ fights throughout his pro career. At the beginning of 2021, almost all hope was lost for the Xtreme Couture product as Curtis considered himself in ‘MMA purgatory’ with the UFC not signing him.
Everything changed that coming Fall as Curtis got the call-up to the big show and knocked out Phil Hawes and Brendan Allen in back-to-back months.
We’ll see if lightning can strike twice for Chris Curtis as the 36 year-old hunts for the biggest win of his career.
Round 1:
Body kick lands for Allen. Curtis swings and misses. Curtis fires a right hand. Allen shoots for a takedown on Curtis and seizes his back close to the cage. Curtis escapes from the body triangle position and gets back up to his feet. Allen lands a clean elbow. Allen throws the right hand. Curtis and Allen exchange strikes in close quarters.
Curtis presses forward, pumping out punches. Allen continues to find a home for his right hand. Allen lands a left hand as Curtis comes in. Allen throws a head kick that is blocked. Curtis lands a kick to the body.
Christopher De Santiago scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Round 2:
Allen opens up with a head kick. Allen fires the jab. Allen kicks to the knees of Curtis. Curtis cracks Allen with a clean right hook. Curtis strings together his combos. Allen eats a right hand. Allen returns with one of his own. Curtis throws punches to the body. Allen looks for a takedown, but doesn’t get it. Curtis moves forward and Allen stands his ground, firing shots left and right.
Both fighters are evasive while trading in the pocket. Allen lands a knee up the middle. Allen tags Curtis with a jab. Allen eats a left hand and again. Curtis hits Allen with a right hook. Allen and Curtis exchange shots before the bell.
Christopher De Santiago scores the round: 10-9 Curtis
Round 3:
Allen lands a kick to the body. Allen pumps out the jab, landing a right hand on Curtis. Allen puts together his punches. Sharp right hand gets through for Allen. Curtis clips Allen with a right hook. The middleweights enter the Thai clinch and then break away. Allen pokes Curtis in the eye while throwing a combo. The fight continues after a momentary pause.
Curtis lands a body shot. Curtis fires a headkick that just misses. Curtis rocks Allen with power punches. Allen moves around the Octagon. Curtis pours on the pressure but Allen survives, getting a takedown and seizing the back of Curtis. Curtis stands up, with Allen on him like a backpack. They separate and Allen lands an elbow right at the end of the round.
Christopher De Santiago scores the round: 10-9 Curtis
Round 4:
Allen throws a jab and then a leg kick. Curtis hurts Allen with punches to the body and to the head. Allen complains about an eye poke but it’s ruled a punch after a short pause. The fight continues. Curtis tries to get his offense going. Allen takes Curtis down to the ground with Allen getting his back. Curtis manages to escape and gets back up.
Curtis throws shots to the body. Allen tags Curtis with a punch, pointing at him afterwards. Allen lands a crisp head kick. Allen looks for a takedown on Curtis against the cage and he gets it. Allen gets Curtis’ back again but Curtis scrambles out of the position, only to have Allen come out on top position.
Christopher De Santiago scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Round 5:
The fighters embrace before going back to work. Allen shoots for a takedown but Curtis sprawls, clipping his opponent with shots. Allen does eventually get the takedown and goes for a leg lock in a follow-up scramble but Curtis escapes onto his feet. Allen goes for another takedown but Curtis sprawls effectively. Allen desperately wants this fight on the ground but Curtis isn’t giving him one more inch
Allen goes for a takedown and is denied by Curtis once more. Curtis lands a few punches from the top position. Allen cracks Curtis a punch before a takedown attempt. Allen finally gets it this time around, seizing the back of Curtis. Allen loses the position in the scramble. Allen goes for one more takedown but it’s stuffed by Curtis.
Allen stuns Curtis with a jumping knee. Curtis is visibly hurt and Allen rips strikes to the body and the head before the final bell. Following the end of the fight, Curtis goes down to the ground in pain, sporting a potential hamstring injury.
Christopher De Santiago scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Official result: Brendan Allen defeats Chris Curtis via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 49-46)
Check out the highlights below:
ABSOLUTE WARRIORS 😤
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 7, 2024
Chris Curtis and Brendan Allen gave their all to the final bell 💪 #UFCVegas90 pic.twitter.com/0uzflPHOKI
UNREAL MAIN EVENT #UFCVegas90 pic.twitter.com/0VeuHKRHq0
— Ben Davis (@BenTheBaneDavis) April 7, 2024
THE STREAK CONTINUES 😤@BrendanAllenMMA gets revenge and comes out on top with a split decision! #UFCVegas90 pic.twitter.com/WH85LEb8xy
— UFC (@ufc) April 7, 2024
He's got his eyes on the belt 👀@BrendanAllenMMA wants a shot at middleweight gold! #UFCVegas90 pic.twitter.com/eW2LN1SliP
— UFC (@ufc) April 7, 2024
Chris Curtis was taken out of the Apex on a stretcher after hurting his leg against Brendan Allen at #UFCVegas90 pic.twitter.com/f18oKE93PR
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 7, 2024
Pushed until the very end, but @BrendanAllenMMA gets his seventh consecutive win and gets to celebrate with family. #UFCVegas90 pic.twitter.com/Fal5B2s9CG
— John Morgan (@JohnMorgan_MMA) April 7, 2024
