Veteran middleweights throw down at the Meta APEX Saturday night, as Brendan Allen faces Edmen Shahbazyan in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs. Bonfim.
Allen (26–7, 14–4 UFC) is riding back-to-back wins, scoring a unanimous decision over Marvin Vettori last July before stopping Reinier de Ridder in October. Shahbazyan (16–5, 9–5 UFC) has won three straight, punctuated by a first-round knockout of Andre Muniz in October.
Allen enters as a -218 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Shahbazyan is a +180 underdog, with the total set at O/U 1.5 rounds.
Allen vs. Shahbazyan Preview
Brendan Allen (#4)
In many ways, Saturday’s matchup seems like a step backward for Brendan Allen. The No. 4 middleweight in the world recently derailed the hype train of Reinier de Ridder, breaking the former top contender and rendering him unable to continue after four rounds of their October meeting. And now he’s lined up against… someone outside the top 15?
Allen, 30, explained his decision to fight an unranked opponent on his Instagram story, saying that ex-champion Dricus Du Plessis “went into hiding.” In true fighter spirit, he added, “I’m here to fight anyone and everyone and put some money in the bank!”
“All In” Allen, 30, has been an upper-division staple since his UFC debut in 2019, climbing the rankings on the strength of his smothering, black-belt jiu-jitsu. Seven of his 14 Octagon wins have come by submission, and he’s also notched a pair of knockouts. With a 9–2 record since the beginning of 2022, Allen could be one victory away from his first crack at the 185-pound throne — currently occupied by Shahbazyan’s Xtreme Couture teammate Sean Strickland.
Edmen Shahbazyan
Edmen Shahbazyan sparked a career revival last year. The former No. 9 contender native had dropped five of seven bouts from 2020 to 2024 before rebounding with a strong 2025, featuring three straight wins and a pair of first-round finishes. He rounded out the year with a dominant TKO victory over Andre Muniz at UFC 320 in October.
However, the “Golden Boy,” 28, is still searching for his first win against a top-10 opponent — he’s 1–2 against ranked competitors, altogether. And while the LA-born striker has flashed improved takedown defense of late, he has shown vulnerability against elite grapplers in the past. Add to that a questionable gas tank.
In arguably the toughest test of his career, Shahbazyan will likely need to deploy his fast hands and wrecking-ball power (13 of his 16 pro wins have come by knockout or TKO) in an attempt to score an early finish — and avoid getting taken to the deep waters.
Allen vs. Shahbazyan Pick, Best Bet
While Shahbazyan is coming off a resurgent 2025, this seems like too high a mountain to climb. Allen has established a strong foothold at 185 pounds, something Shahbazyan has yet to accomplish, and he should lean into his clear grappling advantage to emphasize that disparity from the opening bell. Fresh off dismantling de Ridder, Allen seems primed for another stoppage in Saturday night’s co-main event.
