Tonight’s UFC 297 fight-card featured a spectacular featherweight opener between Arnold Allen and Movsar Evloev.
Arnold Allen has been a perennial contender at 145 pounds. Slowly building a resume to match the division’s elite, the division is chasing Alexander Volkanovski. Allen is coming off the biggest fight of his career against Max Holloway, in a unanimous decision. Although the fight didn’t go his way his stock only rose as he went the full 5 minutes with the previous champ.
Arnold does however have an outstanding background in the UFC. He was able to finish Dan Hooker, and looked great against Calvin Kattar before his unfortunate knee injury. This fight presents an opportunity to reset and build his way back up to a title fight
Evloev is undefeated and has been picking up strong decision wins, most recently over 2023 breakout star Diego Lopes. He’s tidy on the feet and is strongest in the grappling exchanges which will present a challenge to Allen.
With the title fight between Volkanovski & Topuria going down in February, this is a great chance to stake the next claim.
Arnold Allen v Movsar Evloev Fight Result & Highlights
The first round started well for the Brit who quickly found his range with his jab, but as the round went on Evloev finally got Allen to the mat on several occasions finishing the opening round strong.
The second round was a carbon copy of the first with Allen starting well, fighting on the outside popping the jab. However, Evloev, like the first persisted on taking the fight to the mat into his world. Allen done well getting back to his feet, but ended up facing adversity deep into the second after eating a strong jab from Evloev, leaving him dazed.
Allen picked up the pace in the third knowing he had to finish the fight to win, but the momentum was quickly stopped after referee Marc Goddard stopped the action after three illegal knees for Allen. The fight re-started an Evloev found success again cruising to the final bell professionally.
Official result: Mosvar Evloev def. Arnold Allen by unanimous decision.
The fight marked back-to-back losses for Allen after losing to Max Holloway in his prior outing. For Mosvar Evloev, he moves to 18-0, and cements himself as a legitimate contender in the UFC featherweight division.
What did you make of the fight between Mosvar Evloev and Arnold Allen?
