Allen vs Craig

Who won Allen vs Craig?

Brendan Allen beat Paul Craig by submission in the 3rd round during the main event of UFC Fight Night – Allen vs Craig, on Saturday 18th November 2023 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 5 rounds in the Middleweight division, which meant the weight limit was 185 pounds (13.2 stone or 83.9 KG).

Allen vs Craig stats

Brendan Allen stepped into the octagon with a record of 22 wins, 5 losses and 0 draws, 5 of those wins coming by the way of knock out and 13 by submission.

Paul Craig made his way to the cage with a record of 17 wins, 6 losses and 1 draw, 4 of those wins coming by knock out and 13 by submission.

This was Brendan Allen's 16th fight in the UFC, having made his debut for the promotion in 2019. Paul Craig marked his 20th fight for them, having made his own debut for the promotion in 2016.

Brendan Allen's UFC record stood at 12-4-0, while Paul Craig's came in at 9-9-1.

The stats suggested Craig had a slight advantage in power over Allen, with a 24% knock out percentage over Allen's 23%.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested Craig had an advantage over Allen, with a 76% submission rate over Allen's 59%.

Brendan Allen was the younger man by 8 years, at 29 years old.

Craig had a height advantage of 1 inch over Allen. That also extended to a 1-inch reach advantage.

Allen was arguably the more experienced fighter, having had 3 more fights, and made his debut in 2015, 1 year and 11 months later than Craig, whose first professional fight was in 2013. He had fought 24 more professional rounds, 71 to Craig's 47.

Allen vs Craig form

Brendan Allen had beaten 4 of his last 5 opponents.

In his last fight before this contest, he had won against Punahele Soriano at UFC Vegas 32 on 24th July 2021 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at UFC APEX, Las Vegas, United States.

Previous to that, he had beaten Karl Roberson at UFC 261 on 24th April 2021 by submission in the 1st round at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville.

Going into that contest, he had lost to Sean Strickland at UFC Vegas 14 on 14th November 2020 by knockout in the 2nd round at UFC APEX, Las Vegas.

Before that, he had defeated Kyle Daukaus at UFC Vegas 4 on 27th June 2020 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at UFC APEX, Las Vegas.

He was victorious against Moses Murrietta at LFA 61 on 22nd February 2019 by unanimous decision in their LFA Middleweight championship fight at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Prior Lake.

Craig had beaten 3 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 2 of them, going the distance once.

In his last fight leading up to this contest, he had won against André Muniz at UFC Fight Night London – Aspinall vs. Tybura on 22nd July 2023 by knockout in the 2nd round at O2 Arena, London, United Kingdom.

Previous to that, he had been beaten by Johnny Walker at UFC 283 on 21st January 2023 by knockout in the 1st round at Jeunesse Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Going into that contest, he had been defeated by Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Fight Night London on 23rd July 2022 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at The O2, London, United Kingdom.

Before that, he had beaten Nikita Krylov at UFC Fight Night London on 19th March 2022 by submission in the 1st round at 02 Arena, London.

He had defeated Jamahal Hill at UFC 263 on 12th June 2021 by knockout in the 1st round at Gila River Arena, Glendale, United States.

Activity check

In terms of activity leading into the fight, Paul Craig had been fighting more than Brendan Allen.

Going to this contest, Brendan Allen had last fought 3 years, 10 months and 25 days ago, while Paul Craig's last outing had been 1 year, 10 months and 27 days ago.

Allen's last 5 fights had come over a period of 6 years, 3 months and 27 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 1 year, 3 months and 6 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 14 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.8 rounds on average.

Craig's last 5 fights had come over a period of 4 years and 6 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 9 months and 20 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 8 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 1.6 rounds on average.

What were the odds on Allen vs Craig?

Brendan Allen was a 11/50 (-450) favourite going into the contest, while Paul Craig made his way into the ring at 7/2 (+350) with oddsmakers.