Arnold Allen wants the UFC to start awarding title shots to the most deserving contenders.
Allen (20-4 MMA, 11-3 UFC) fought Movsar Evloev and Jean Silva – two of the top featherweights currently in the running for a shot against UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski (28-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC). Allen had close fights with both Evloev (20-0 MMA, 10-0 UFC) and Silva (17-3 MMA, 6-1 UFC) but lost close decisions.
He was asked which one would give Volkanovski a sterner test.
“Movsar,” Allen responded to MMA Junkie. “Volk’s too dynamic, too smart for Silva.”
Allen, who meets streaking featherweight Melquizael Costa (26-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in Saturday’s main event (Paramount+) at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, sees Evloev as the more worthy title challenger. Evloev’s resume includes wins over Allen, Lerone Murphy, Diego Lopes, and Aljamain Sterling.
“You’ve got to give it to Movsar,” Allen said. “I know his track record doesn’t look good. He’s had a lot of pullouts, a lot of canceled fights, but it is a sport, and I think for the integrity of the sport, a guy has done the job and beat the guys. However, I feel he beat me. However, Aljamain feels he beat him. However, Diego Lopes feels, he got the win. So, it is what it is.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Arnold Allen sees clear most deserving UFC featherweight title shot