Top 15 ranked middleweight contenders Brendan Allen and Paul Craig stepped into the main event spotlight at UFC Vegas 82 on Saturday night.
Scoring a win in his 185-pound debut against Andre Muniz in July, Craig returned to the Octagon determined to break into the middleweight top ten by taking out the tenth-ranked contender, Brendan Allen.
Round 1
Craig kicked things off with a front kick to the body of Allen which prompted Allen to return fire with a stiff right hand. Craig went downstairs with a calf kick. Allen rips to the body of Craig before moving in and looking to tie up in the center of the Octagon. Craig backs Allen against the fence and drops down for a takedown. Allen gets the whizzer and uses a sweep to take Craig down to the canvas.
Allen ends up in half-guard and begins to unleash some strikes before Paul ties him up. Allen slowly works his way into position for a rear-naked choke attempt, but Craig sneakily puts Allen’s leg into position for a calf slicer forcing Allen to give up the choke and scramble. After briefly separating, Allen puts Craig on his back once again to close out the round.
Round 2
Allen moves in and lands a big right hand, but eats a check left hook from Craig in the process. With Craig against the fence, Allen moves in and takes ‘Bearjew’ down, landing in his guard. Allen advances to half-guard and begins digging for an arm triangle. Craig rolls his hip to avoid the danger. Allen looks to maintain top position as he reigns down some strikes, busting Craig’s right eyebrow open in the process.
With a minute to go in the round, Allen postures up and delivers some solid strikes before bringing his weight back down on Craig and maintaining top control. Allen takes Craig’s back but with only seconds left on the clock.
Round 3
Allen again kicks off the round by moving in and landing a solid combination that sends Craig to the canvas. Allen locks in a rear-naked choke as they go to the ground and Craig has no choice, but to tap out in the opening seconds of the third.
Official Result: Brendan Allen def. Paul Craig via submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:38 of Round 3.
Check Out Highlights From Paul Craig vs. Brendan Allen at UFC Vegas 82 Below:
Brendan Allen happy to oblige Paul Craig in the grappling after hurting him often on the feet, made it look rather easy on top position.
That’s six straight wins. The man is streaking into middleweight title contention. #UFCVegas82 pic.twitter.com/jktmc1sbaO
— Kevin Thang (@Skip2MyJays) November 19, 2023
Brendan Allen submits Paul Craig #UFCVegas82 pic.twitter.com/Ap7lg2r76C
— FightGIF (@TheFightGIF) November 19, 2023
