Brendan Allen: Khamzat Chimaev deserves UFC title rematch vs. Sean Strickland

Brendan Allen thinks the UFC middleweight division is in a strange spot after Sean Strickland took the title from Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 . Allen, who trained alongside Chimaev (15-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) for his part of his camp prior to the split decision defeat to Strickland (30-7 MMA, 18-7 UFC) this month, thinks the weight class could go in a lot of directions in the fallout of the title change. The big question is seemingly whether Chimaev will be granted his wish for a rematch against Strickland after his first MMA loss, or if he will follow through with a move up to light heavyweight.

That decision will impact everyone including Allen, who has a key fight vs. Edmen Shahbazyan at UFC Fight Night 278 on June 6 at Meta APEX in Las Vegas ( Paramount+ ). "I think we're in a crazy position and everyone's just waiting for the bosses to say what avenue they're going to go.

I'm kind of caught," Allen told MMA Junkie Radio. "I think Khamzat deserves a rematch. It was a super close fight based on statistics.

I had him winning, but I could also be (biased). It was obviously still a close fight because it was a split decision. I would say he should get a rematch, but I also think Nassourdine (Imavov) has earned No.