Brendan Allen taps Christian Leroy Duncan with a late choke at UFC Vegas 122, then eyes an ex-champion

Brendan Allen’s stock in the UFC middleweight class rose again at UFC Vegas 122. According to Yahoo Sports’ account of the night’s results, Allen stopped Christian Leroy Duncan with a late choke, turning pressure into an end-of-fight submission and setting up a bigger name on his next path.

The result mattered on two fronts. First, it extended Allen’s pattern of winning fights through grappling and control rather than relying only on early striking exchanges. Second, it came with public direction after the finish, when Allen called out an ex-champion, indicating that he is not content to hover around the edge of title conversations. In a division where contenders often need clarity from the promotion, a direct callout can function like a roadmap.

Allen’s approach has typically centered on controlling the fight long enough to impose his wrestling and grappling will, and then tightening the sequence until an opponent’s options shrink. Against Duncan, the reported “late choke” finish suggests the fight played out as a steady accumulation rather than a quick snap submission. Even without the granular breakdown, the late phase is notable in MMA because it usually reflects how a submission setup survives after initial adversity and fatigue becomes a factor.

For Duncan, the stoppage is a reminder of the risks middleweight opponents face when the fight stretches toward extended grappling phases. Christian Leroy Duncan entered the bout as a known combatant with a UFC résumé, and Allen’s ability to finish him with a choke indicates that Allen’s grappling was not only present, but decisive at the moment the fight closed.

The callout to an ex-champion adds immediate context to the division’s hierarchy. In the UFC, ex-champions often represent either a return to contender status or an additional layer of experience for the next wave of challengers. By naming that lane, Allen is essentially asking for a fight that carries credibility, not just momentum. That kind of next-step matchup tends to accelerate who gets considered when the title picture needs a clear answer.

What comes next depends on how the UFC structures its middleweight slate and what the promotion prioritizes in the wake of UFC Vegas 122. If matchmaking follows Allen’s stated target, the winner of that hypothetical matchup would likely become a stronger reference point for the championship discussion. If not, Allen’s challenge will be whether he can translate a high-profile finish into a similarly high-profile opponent.

There is also a practical takeaway for fighters at this level: “late” finishes remain a strategic advantage. Allen’s reportable end to Duncan’s fight reinforces how controlling positions and building submission threats over time can create moments when the opponent must defend multiple layers at once.