The UFC has announced a matchup between middleweights Brendan Allen and Paul Craig, with Allen looking to make it 3-0 in 2023 following a series of wins, and Craig headlining a UFC event for the first time after transitioning from the light heavyweight division.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweights are prepared to take center stage in the octagon in November. An official announcement was made on Tuesday that a highly-anticipated matchup between Brendan Allen and Paul Craig will serve as the main event of UFC Vegas 82. This high-stakes event is scheduled for November 18 and is expected to take place at the well-known UFC APEX in Las Vegas.
Brendan Allen enters the arena on a winning streak, having claimed victories in his previous five promotional bouts, including an impressive four stoppage wins. Currently ranked tenth in the middleweight category, Allen is working towards a flawless 3-0 in 2023. He gained this momentum after earning submission wins over Andre Muniz at February’s UFC Vegas 70 event and, most recently, Bruno Silva at UFC Jacksonville in June.
In contrast, Paul Craig, after experiencing two consecutive losses in the light heavyweight category, decided to transition to the middleweight division in July at UFC London. There, he turned the tide, stunning Muniz with a second-round TKO finish. Known by his nickname “Bearjew”, this will be Craig’s first time headlining a UFC event, marking a significant milestone in his career, after 16 appearances for the promotion.