Allen is one of those prospects that people have wanted to see graduate to the UFC for well over a year, as the 23-year-old Roufusport representative has fought a tough slate on the regional circuit and been a main event staple under the LFA banner for more than two years. Now, following a first-round submission win this summer on the Contender Series, those folks will finally get their wish as Allen makes his promotional debut in Boston against Kevin Holland.
A pro for four years, Allen is the latest former LFA middleweight champion to graduate to the UFC, joining Eryk Anders, Markus Perez, Anthony Hernandez and Ian Heinisch in turning a title win at the highest regional level into a chance to compete in the UFC. In fact, two of Allen’s three career losses came in championship fights against Anders and Hernandez, with current UFC competitor Trevin Giles accounting for his other setback.
Since losing to Hernandez at the start of 2018, Allen has rattled off four consecutive victories, culminating in a first-round submission win over the aforementioned Aaron Jeffery, a very talented Canadian prospect who hadn’t lost since falling to Brady at the close of 2015. After initially being paired with Eric Spicely, Allen will now square off with the streaking middleweight Holland in a bout that carries far more upside for the promotional newcomer.
While Spicely acquitted himself well in a short-notice loss to Deron Winn in his return to the UFC earlier this year, Holland enters on a three-fight winning streak. He also holds a split decision win over Allen’s teammate, Gerald Meerschaert, which could make this a bit of a grudge match as well.
Regardless of how this one lines up or shakes out, Allen is an outstanding prospect and someone to keep an eye on going forward in the always fluid, always entertaining middleweight division.
