London, UK – UFC featherweight Arnold Allen was not scheduled to fight at UFC London on Saturday night, but that didn’t stop him from showing up to The O2 Arena to meet with fans, fighters and media.
“I feel like my full social awkwardness anxiety is coming out because I haven’t got the adrenaline of a fight. So I’ll probably be a bit weirder than usual,” Allen said with a grin when speaking to Cageside Press among other media.
Allen (18-1) fought on the last UFC London card in March where he defeated Dan Hooker via TKO. He injured his hands in the fight and has been out healing, but he was still a bit upset that he wouldn’t be ready for this card on Saturday night.
“Yeah I was definitely gutted. When they announced they were coming back so soon I was like, as soon as they announced it, I was like I’m not going to be ready for that. Like I’m not going to be on that card,” Allen said.
“But, my whole career, just sort of try to look at brighter things, bigger things, and the last card was really good. I’ll just keep that one in mind.”
With the win over Hooker in March, and a 9-fight win streak, Allen sees himself getting a top 5 featherweight for his next fight. The Hooker fight, however, left him injured and unable to book a next fight too soon.
“Just my hands throbbing for weeks (following Hooker fight) and it really hurt. It felt really good to beat someone with a big name like that, in that fashion as well,” said Allen.
Coming into The O2 for this card Allen experienced the other side of attending an event in London as a fighter.
“I was told to take the back entrance today, and I went in the front entrance and went to Five Guys. I literally stood there for about an hour taking pictures. I don’t think that would happen before the fight so that’s a positive,” Allen said with a smile.
“Always like, if someone comes and asks for a picture I always do it, but it was a long queue. I was surprised it just kept going. It’s good to see I’m going in the right direction.”
With Allen being a growing star, and having such a win streak to build on, it’s to be seen if he will get any of the top names at 145 pounds.
“Anyone in that top 5. I mean, I’m 9-0 in the UFC, I don’t really know my record. It’s pretty good I think. I feel like I deserve, or if anyone deserves to fight upwards, it’s probably me. 9-0 in the UFC, just finished Dan Hooker,” Allen said.
“Give me someone in that top 5, you know. Any of them.”
Watch the full UFC London post-fight press scrum with Arnold Allen above.
