English featherweight contender Arnold Allen is ready to go ahead of the biggest fight of his career, and he said that victory will put him one win away from the biggest prize in the sport.
Allen, who is undefeated in 10 UFC fights heading into his UFC Kansas City main event bout with former champion Max Holloway, said that a win over the Hawaiian will punch his ticket to a title shot.
“I think so,” he said.
“I feel like it has to. There’s nowhere else to go then, surely.”
Allen hasn’t lost since a decision defeat to Pole Marcin Wrzosek in Cage Warriors back in June 2014, and has been perfect in the UFC so far in his career.
Wins over the likes of Mads Burnell, Gilbert Melendez, Nik Lentz, and Sodiq Yusuff saw him steadily rise the featherweight ranks, and back-to-back stoppage victories over Dan Hooker and Calvin Kattar elevated him to contender status at 145 pounds.
Now he’s set to face a man considered by many as the UFC’s greatest featherweight champion of all time, Allen said he’ll relish the opportunity to test his skills against a future UFC Hall of Famer.
“One of the greatest featherweights of all time,” he said of his opponent.
“His resume is nothing short of inspiring. He’s done all the things I want to do, and he’s set the path for the things I want to do, too.”
With the best opponent of his career set to stand across from him on fight night, Allen said he’s ready to deliver a statement performance against one of the toughest, most durable featherweights of all time.
And with Holloway renowned for his exciting fighting style, Allen said he’s prepared to serve up a classic when they face off on fight night in Kansas City.
“He’s rarely in a boring fight,” Allen said.
“The way he fights is going to bring the best out of myself. I’m looking forward to it.
“It’s never a thought about trying to be the guy to put him down. It’s never the thought, whoever you’re fighting. You’re always thinking about the five rounds and doing the distance.
“Obviously the goal is always to try to finish, but the thought is to go five rounds.”
