Brendan Allen, #10 Ranked Middleweight, Expects To Be UFC Champ By End Of ’24

Sean Strickland‘s the UFC Middleweight champ immediately, however by the top of 2024, Brendan Allen believes the highest of the division will look completely different … he expects to be the titleholder!

TMZ Sports activities talked to 27-year-old Allen, the #10 ranked 185-pounder within the promotion, forward of his UFC Combat Night time principal occasion scrap with #13 ranked Paul Craig on Saturday in Las Vegas … a giant combat for the rising star.

We requested Brendan for his evaluation of the division.

“I think I’m the best in the world. It’s up to me to prove it,” Allen stated, including … “I think Sean [Strickland] will be there for a little bit. Hopefully, ending of next year it’ll be ‘And new’ for me. That’s the goal. I don’t care who’s there when it’s my turn. But obviously, the goal is ‘And new’ when I get my turn.”

Allen, 22-5, is coming off a win over Bruno Silva in June … his fifth straight victory.

35-year-old Craig had misplaced two in a row — towards Volkan Oezdemir (July ’22) and Johnny Walker (January ’23) — earlier than rebounding towards Andre Muniz in July. Paul’s 17-6-1 over his professional profession.

Brendan additionally weighed in on Paul’s determination to go from 205 lbs. to the 185 lb. division … a transfer that might come round to chew Craig, in response to Allen.

“I think the weight cut will play a role, but it’s not the sole or main reason [I’ll win]. I just think that I’m gonna be too good, too fast, too strong. He may be bigger, but I’m just a different guy when it comes to this weight class, and I’m gonna show just that.,” Brenda informed us.

We additionally talked to Craig … who’s going to do his greatest to (at the least momentarily) cease the Allen hype prepare.