Las Vegas, NV – UFC middleweight Brendan Allen is not a fan of the rankings system in the promotion, and he made sure to voice his opinion at UFC Vegas 82 media day.
“It wasn’t a middleweight fight,” Allen told reporters when asked about Khamzat Chimaev and Kamaru Usman fighting at UFC 294. The bout pushed Chimaev higher in the rankings following his victory over Usman.
“They weighed in at 85, but they’re both 170s.”
Controversy over rankings, or the way they’re put together, isn’t new as many other athletes have voiced displeasure over them before. Allen took aim, albeit jokingly, at the panel responsible for voting on rankings.
“I don’t know if anyone here’s on the panel, but if you do, I don’t like you,” he said. Then he looked over to one member of the media.
“Are you the panel?” Allen asked. The reporter answered with a ‘maybe’, “I don’t like you then.”
“Yeah it’s bullsh*t. This guy (Chimaev) hasn’t beat an 85er. He hasn’t beat a 85er specially a ranked 85er. He beat the number one 170 guy. Cool congratulations. I think everyone can agree a 5-round fight Kamaru wins, and that was off the couch.”
This weekend at UFC Vegas 82 he faces Paul Craig a fellow ranked middleweight coming off a victory over Andre Muniz.
“I think everyone knows why this is a main event. It’s not for him. He’s just a good spot-filler I guess. He has a ok following,” said Allen.
“I think they realized I will be champion eventually. I’m 27. I still got plenty of time to go. I think they realize I will be the champion and we’re just taking the proper steps towards that.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Brendan Allen above. He takes on Paul Craig at UFC Vegas 82 on Saturday night.
