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UFC Vegas 122 – Brendan Allen strengthened his position among the UFC’s top middleweight contenders with a fifth round submission victory over Christian Leroy Duncan in the main event of UFC Vegas 122.
Allen secured a rear naked choke at 2:46 of the final round on October 10 at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, ending Duncan’s five fight winning streak and extending his own run to four consecutive victories. The result also gave Allen another important win in his pursuit of a future middleweight title opportunity.
The contest was competitive for much of the scheduled five rounds. Duncan found success with his striking early, using his range to keep Allen at a distance. However, Allen gradually brought his grappling into the fight and capitalised on his opponent’s defensive vulnerabilities in the closing round.
With the victory, Allen reinforced his status as a top five middleweight and immediately turned his attention toward bigger challenges.
Brendan Allen Calls for a Fight With Dricus du Plessis
Allen entered the main event seeking his fourth consecutive UFC victory, while Duncan was looking to build on an impressive five fight winning streak. The British contender started well, landing from range and frustrating Allen during the opening exchanges. An accidental eye poke interrupted the action in the second round, but Allen eventually gained momentum by taking the fight to the ground.
His grappling proved increasingly important as the contest progressed. Allen worked through the middle rounds, although Duncan continued to threaten on the feet and made the fight competitive heading into the final frame.
In the fifth round, Allen secured a takedown, worked toward Duncan’s back and locked in the rear naked choke. Duncan was unable to escape, forcing the referee to intervene at 2:46.
After the fight, Allen called for an opportunity against former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and also mentioned current champion Sean Strickland as a potential target. Allen made clear that he wants to face opponents positioned above him in the division rather than continue taking fights against rising prospects.
Andre Fili scores a spectacular head kick knockout
Andre Fili delivered one of the night’s most memorable finishes, knocking out Kai Kamaka III with a head kick just 22 seconds into the second round.
The featherweights exchanged strikes during a competitive opening round before Fili found the opening he needed. He stunned Kamaka with a punch, followed with a combination and finished the sequence with a clean head kick that sent his opponent to the canvas.
The stoppage ended Fili’s two fight losing streak and marked his first finish since December 2023. The UFC subsequently awarded him a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
For the veteran, it was an important result after more than a decade competing in the Octagon. The finish also gave him a strong highlight to build on as he looks to remain competitive in the featherweight division.
Otari Tanzilovi knocks out Malcolm Wellmaker
Georgian bantamweight Otari Tanzilovi earned his first UFC victory with a second round knockout of Malcolm Wellmaker.
Tanzilovi landed a head kick at 2:39 of the second round, dropping Wellmaker before following up to secure the stoppage. The fight had been competitive early, with Wellmaker showing his boxing while Tanzilovi mixed his striking with grappling.
The finish was particularly important for Tanzilovi, who had previously debuted a division above his usual weight class on relatively short notice. His return to bantamweight produced the result he needed to establish himself in the UFC.
Jai Herbert defeats Matheus Camilo
Jai Herbert claimed a unanimous decision victory over Brazilian prospect Matheus Camilo in the co main event. All three judges scored the lightweight contest 29 – 28 for Herbert. The veteran started well on the feet, although Camilo hurt him late in the opening round and used his wrestling in the second.
Herbert responded by reversing position on the ground and finishing the fight strongly over the final five minutes. The win followed his earlier victory over Mandel Nallo and represented another setback for a young lightweight hoping to establish himself in the UFC.
Loopy Godinez wins a close decision over Ketlen Souza
Loopy Godinez returned to winning ways with a unanimous decision over Ketlen Souza in their women’s strawweight contest.
The judges scored the fight 29 – 28 across all three scorecards. Souza used her power to create problems during the first two rounds, while Godinez found success with her wrestling in the third.
The Mexican Canadian fighter secured the victory in front of her parents, who had travelled to Las Vegas to watch her compete. The result gave Godinez a much needed return to the win column.
UFC Vegas 122 produces a night of finishes
The event featured numerous stoppages, including a first round TKO by Alice Pereira against Daria Zhelezniakova following a doctor stoppage, and a first round knockout by Francisco Prado against Ismael Bonfim.
Julius Walker also defeated Gerald Meerschaert by second round TKO, while Niko Price faced Leon Shahbazyan in a welterweight contest. The preliminary card included several other finishes, contributing to a busy night at the Meta APEX.
The UFC awarded additional $100,000 bonuses to Alice Pereira, Andre Fili and Brendan Allen for their performances.
What comes next for Brendan Allen?
Allen’s victory keeps him firmly involved in the UFC middleweight title conversation. His ability to recover from Duncan’s strong start and find a late submission demonstrated why he remains a difficult matchup for opponents who struggle against his grappling.
The next step is finding an opponent who can move him closer to a title opportunity. Allen has publicly called for du Plessis and mentioned Strickland, although no next fight has been officially announced.
Duncan, meanwhile, will need to regroup after seeing his five fight winning streak come to an end. His striking showed promise in the early stages, but Allen’s grappling ultimately decided the contest.
UFC Vegas 122 therefore delivered an important result at the top of the middleweight division, alongside standout finishes from Fili and Tanzilovi.
UFC Vegas 122: Full results
Main card
• Brendan Allen vs. Christian Leroy Duncan: Allen WIN, rear naked choke, Round 5, 2:46.
• Matheus Camilo vs. Jai Herbert: Herbert WIN, unanimous decision, 29 – 28, 29 – 28, 29 – 28.
• Loopy Godinez vs. Ketlen Souza: Godinez WIN, unanimous decision, 29 – 28, 29 – 28, 29 – 28.
• Andre Fili vs. Kai Kamaka III: Fili WIN, KO, Round 2, 0:22.
• Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Otari Tanzilovi: Tanzilovi WIN, KO, Round 2, 2:39.
Preliminary card
• Julius Walker vs. Gerald Meerschaert: Walker WIN, TKO, Round 2, 3:35.
• Francisco Prado vs. Ismael Bonfim: Prado WIN, KO, Round 1, 4:23.
• Niko Price vs. Leon Shahbazyan: The final result was not confirmed in the event summary consulted.
• Felipe Franco vs. Brendson Ribeiro: The final result was not confirmed in the event summary consulted.
• Allen Frye Jr. vs. RJ Harris: The final result was not confirmed in the event summary consulted.
• Alice Pereira vs. Daria Zhelezniakova: Pereira WIN, TKO by doctor stoppage, Round 1, 5:00.
• Melissa Gatto vs. Ernesta Kareckaite: Majority draw, 29 – 27, 28 – 28, 28 – 28
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