'I'll take it': Brendan Allen goes blunt when asked about Paul Craig's ground game prowess

This week in the UFC Fight night, a huge set of action is planned to take place at the Apex arena. The headline fight of the night is between two hard hitting Middleweights, Paul Craig and Brendan Allen. 

Ahead of the fight, the republicworld.com had a chat with one of the protagonists of the main event, Brendan Allen. Allen, who is currently ranked 10 in the 185lbs circuit, comes in as a heavy favourite against Craig. Allen cut out a confident figure before the in-ring battle against Paul Craig. Subsequently, he answered what he thinks lies ahead for him in UFC and also paid heed to fights of couple of his peers.

So, without further ado, let's weigh in on what Brandan “All-in” Allen said.

Excerpts

Q. What are your thoughts on the fight?

I am going to beat him everywhere. I am coming to win, obviously, he is coming to win, obviously he is coming to win but he just not good enough, that's how I feel and that's how I am going to treat him until shown otherwise.

Q. Paul Craig is a hard hitting fighter, who as per records does not like to go the distance. But ironically you both have same amount of submission wins (13), implying that on papers you both have the same strengths. So will we see a different result than a rear naked choke victory?

If he gets me around rear-naked choke, I'll take it. I am coming to knock him out, that's just how I am coming.

Q. Middleweight division is an exciting place to dwell over if you are a fight lover, and for the longest time Israel Adesanya has been the champion but in the last 10 months we have seen the title changing hands three times. What do you have to say about this sudden volatile shift?

The only thing that matters to me is 2024. It's going to be for me, I don't care about anybody else, I don't care who has it, who's gonna have it, and who has had it. All that matters to me is that I am going to have it next year.

Q. Your growth in the division has been quite impressive and at some point you might cross paths with a fighter like Dricus du plessis. He is next in line to get a title shot. So, are you looking for a fight like that already or want to wait up and see what comes in the way?

For me, hopefully, I win the fight. As long as I am in the fight, I think I earned a shot at the No.1 contender fight. So whoever that is, whoever the UFC says that I need to beat to get a title shot. I don't really care, I am at a point in life and career to where I am ready for the toughest guys. I've always been ready for the toughest guys. I always want the toughest guys and that's what I am at right now, I am gonna get the toughest guys and gonna fight the best guys and I am gonna fight whoever UFC says is gonna get me a title shot.

Q. You brandish this unique headwear in the ring that you revealed you got it from Shavkat Rakhmonov. Speaking about Shavkat, he is scheduled to fight Stephen Thompson in December, what do you think about this fight?

Shavkat is a dawg, I think Shavkat's going to win. I think Wonderboy is a great person but I got a poll for my boy Shavkat. I think he is going to win.

Q. Last time when I had a chat with you, we talked about Dustin Poirier's fight against Justin Gaethje. Unfortunately, it did not pan out the way your mate (Dustin) would have liked. He's been quiet since then, what do you think lies ahead for Dustin Poirier?

He is a star, he's got the star power. No matter what he can fight. He needs time to train. The Gaethje fight didn't go his way and he'll never say it because he is the man, he is a good fighter but we know where that fight was going. He just got caught. It is what it is, it happens to the best of us. And Justin is a dawg and I like him as a fighter but Dustin's always going to be that guy with star power and he is going to fight the biggest fights and I think he is at a point in his life in his career so it's kind of motivate him. Justin was losing but he won though.

Q. who would you want to face next after Paul Craig?

Whoever the UFC says next in line, I don't know who that would be a No.1 contender fight. (Jared) Cannonier, Khamzat (Chimaev), Izzy (Israel Adesanya), I have no idea. Whoever the UFC says is No.,1 contender fight, that's what I am ready for.

*UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Craig will be telecast live on Sony Sports Network in India on 19th November 2023, 8:30 AM IST onwards, on Sony Sports Ten 2 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD & HD (Tamil & Telugu) channels & will be available to livestream on Sony LIV.