- American MMA fighter Brendan Allen publicly accused Dricus du Plessis of selecting an easier opponent over a planned bout with him
- Allen, on a three-fight winning streak, was set to headline UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on 10 October 2026 against Christian Leroy Duncan
- The 30-year-old claimed his victory over Reinier de Ridder proved he deserves a shot at the middleweight title
American mixed martial artist Brendan Allen has publicly accused UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis of deliberately sidestepping a fight with him, claiming the South African chose a more commercially appealing opponent over a bout that had reportedly already been agreed upon.
Source: Getty Images
Speaking to CBS Sports ahead of his UFC Fight Night headliner against Christian Leroy Duncan at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas on Saturday, 10 October 2026, Allen alleged that a matchup with Du Plessis was in motion before former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman entered the picture.
Allen calls out Du Plessis directly
"I know he's had the opportunity to fight me, and he took the easier route," Allen told CBS Sports.
"He can say whatever he wants. It's a fact. We were supposed to fight, and somehow Kamaru's name got thrown in there. And obviously Kamaru is a bigger draw."
Allen, who has won three consecutive bouts including a stoppage victory over Reinier de Ridder where De Ridder's corner threw in the towel between rounds, argued that Du Plessis benefited from a physical advantage over Usman that would not exist in a fight against him.
"I'm bigger, I'm stronger, I'm faster. I think I'm more talented, but people are going to play off of Kamaru's resume," Allen said.
"But I don't think Kamaru can make it five rounds with me. So, yeah, I think he took the easier fight. I still think he's bad."
Allen addresses mental Pressure of UFC matchmaking
The 30-year-old also opened up about the psychological toll of being matched against opponents he is expected to beat convincingly. He recalled a 2022 fight against Jacob Malkoun, which he described as one of the worst performances of his career, saying that the weight of expectation affected both his preparation and his sleep.
"I'm supposed to go out there and beat that guy. That's not even other people talking. That's just what I expect from myself every time," Allen said.
"I hold myself to a higher standard than anyone else can."
Allen said he has since worked with sports psychologists and his coaching staff to better manage those pressures. He also credited former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad with offering meaningful support, noting that Muhammad understands the frustration of waiting for a title opportunity.
With his winning run and his late-replacement performance against De Ridder strengthening his credentials, Allen made his position clear:
"At this point, I just need him to fight me."
Dricus du Plessis’ Porsche impresses fans
Briefly News previously reported that Dricus du Plessis was spotted inside a luxurious Porsche 911 Turbo S. The car is a beauty and has caught fans' attention.
The Porsche 911 Turbo S features the brand’s signature wide Turbo body, aggressive rear styling, a full-width rear light bar with the PORSCHE badge, large air intakes, a sporty rear spoiler, and the famous quad exhaust setup.
Source: Briefly News
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