Middleweight action on the UFC 261 preliminary card saw two fighters looking to get back in the win column. Brendan Allen had suffered the first loss of his UFC run last time out against Sean Strickland, halting some impressive momentum the former LFA champ had built. Karl Roberson, meanwhile, had lost his grudge match against Marvin Vettori, and was looking to dust off and get back to work.
Both were looking to get a leg up on the other. In the end, one fighter wound up with a leg potentially in need of repair.
The two both open up with a pair of kicks, before a quick exchange of hands to start things off on Saturday. Roberson landed a stiff jab, then moved forward with a pair of leg kicks. Allen came back with a combination of his own that pushed Roberson back into the cage.
It was when things went to the ground that things took a turn for the worse for Roberson. Allen then dropped for the take down and took Roberson to the mat. Allen worked from top and looked to secure an arm, but Roberson was able to work his back to the cage. Allen continued to work but Roberson was able to get back to his feet, for a moment, before Allen drove him back to the mat. Roberson would not get up again.
Allen, now in half guard, worked to improve his position and Roberson did a good job to lock him down. Roberson tried to break free and in the process gave up his leg — and Allen didn’t hesitate to attack that leg. He locked in the heel hook to end the action, forcing a clearly pained Roberson to tap.
THERE'S THE TAP!
🎰 @BrendanAllenMMA secures the RD 1 sub!
[ #UFC261 on @ESPN & #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/bGxypI5AOF
— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2021
Official Result: Brendan Allen def. Karl Roberson by submission (heel hook), Round 1, 4:55
