Brendan
Allen has criticized Dricus Du
Plessis for allegedly avoiding a fight with him.
A matchup between Allen and du Plessis was reportedly in the works
in January. According to Allen, the bout fell through after he was
told du Plessis was injured. Du Plessis went on to face former
Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholder Kamaru
Usman in July, winning by unanimous decision.
Brendan Allen explains why he believes he was a tougher
opponent than Kamaru Usman
Allen has accused du Plessis of avoiding him in favor of an easier
fight against Usman. “All In” acknowledges that the 39-year-old
former welterweight champion remains a bigger draw. However, Allen
believes he presents a tougher matchup, prompting du Plessis to
take the “easier fight.”
“I know he’s had the opportunity to fight me and he took the easier
route,” Allen told UFC on Paramount+. “He can say whatever he
wants; it’s a fact. We were supposed to fight. And somehow it got
worked that Kamaru’s name got thrown in there. And obviously Kamaru
is a bigger draw even though he’s older, up a weight class. He took
the easier fight, plain and simple. Everyone knows it was the
easier fight. I’m bigger, I’m stronger, I’m faster. I think I’m
more talented, but people are gonna play off of Kamaru’s resume.
OK, play off his resume, but I don’t think that Kamaru can make it
five rounds with me.”
Allen (27-7) enters his
UFC Vegas 122 main event against Christian
Leroy Duncan (15-2) on Saturday in Las Vegas with three
consecutive victories. Duncan has won five straight fights.
Brendan
Allen says DDP took the “easier fight“ against Kamaru
Usman instead of fighting him 👀 „He took the easier route. He
can say whatever he wants; it’s a fact. We were supposed to
fight… Obviously Kamaru is a bigger draw even though he’s older,
up a weight class. Everyone knows it was the easier fight.“ [
#UFCVegas122 | SAT Oct 10 on @paramountplus ]— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount)
October 8, 2026