Brendan Allen not afraid of Khamzat Chimaev's grappling: 'I'm a different beast'

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Brendan Allen is game to fight Khamzat Chimaev.

Allen (22-5 MMA, 10-2 UFC) extended his winning streak to five fights when he submitted Bruno Silva (23-9 MMA, 4-3 UFC) in the UFC on ABC 5 main card opener this past Saturday at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.

In his post-fight octagon interview, Allen called out Jared Cannonier, but hinted that he may not be available. If he can’t get Cannonier, Allen wants to avenge his November 2020 loss to Sean Strickland.

“As far as the matchup, I think (Cannonier) looked really good in his last fight – very good,” Allen told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the UFC on ABC 5 post-fight news conference. “But I think I’m a different beast. I haven’t even shown everything. Sometimes I just like to get after a little bit, as I did tonight.

“I think I should have been a little bit smarter in some cases, but he wasn’t really hitting me too much that I felt. He hit my hands. He hit my forehead. But I just think he’s a fun fight, and it’s a matchup that gets me to the top. But if I can’t get him, then (Sean) Strickland, win or lose. I’d like to get that fight just because it’s a rematch, and obviously, I want that.”

Allen welcomes any top contender. When asked about unbeaten star Khamzat Chimaev (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), Allen is confident he’d have no issues dealing with the stylistic matchup.

“I fear no man,” Allen said. “I turn down no fight. If that’s what he wants, he can come get it. I don’t care. Anyone can get it. ‘C*mshot’ (Chimaev),  Cannonier, (Marvin) Vettori – anyone. They can all get it. I don’t care. What? He’s going to try to take me down? Congratulations – you could take me down. I’ll jump guard, but what are you going to do with it? I’m a different beast. On my back, on top, it doesn’t matter. I’m a different beast.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 5.