Arnold Allen thinks he could have drawn a bigger name with less threat than Movsar Evloev.
Allen (19-2 MMA, 10-1 UFC) meets undefeated Evloev (17-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) at UFC 297 on Jan. 20 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Both Allen and Evloev have often been dubbed as dark horses in the featherweight division. After getting his win streak snapped by former champion Max Holloway in his past outing, Allen admits he was looking to face a more notable name than Evloev.
“He’s very highly touted,” Allen said on Evloev in an interview with Violent Money TV. “I think there was some easier fights with higher-ranked guys. We were asking straight up for (Brian) Ortega after the Holloway fight – the bigger name, the bigger fight – and obviously he was out for a while. Then I think they just want to make him and Yair (Rodriguez) rematch down the line.
“I think that’s what they’re doing now. There’s some easier matchups and higher-ranked guys, but I think he’s a very credible opponent and the rankings are kind of chosen, aren’t they? So if you go on the official rankings – not the UFC rankings, the Fight Matrix ones – he’s much higher than they have him.”
Even though Evloev may not be the biggest name at featherweight, Allen sees the perks with a win over him.
“It’s a tough test,” Allen continued. “And I think beating an undefeated guy and taking his hype and taking his undefeated record away, that’s a lot bigger than beating a No. 3 guy that’s on a skid or something.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 297.
