Brendan Allen wants UFC middleweight title shot, calling for a Strickland rematch: “Let’s run this sh*t back”

Brendan Allen wants the UFC middleweight title picture to move in his direction next, and he is explicitly calling for a rematch with champion Sean Strickland. In comments reported from Las Vegas, Allen said he wants to “run this sh*t back,” framing a potential fight against Strickland as the cleanest path to a world title opportunity after what he described as a 3-0 stretch heading into the conversation about what’s next for him.

Strickland, an experienced UFC main-event fighter, is the current middleweight champion after winning the belt at UFC 328. Sportsnet and ESPN both tied Strickland to the title win at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026, with that fight staged in Newark, New Jersey. As champion, Strickland sets the tone for the division, but the UFC also has to balance matchups, timing, and the list of credible challengers already pushing for their turn.

Allen’s pitch carries extra weight because he and Strickland have met in the Octagon before. UFC’s own event notes for Strickland’s career list their bout at UFC Fight Night on Nov. 14, 2020, when Strickland stopped Brendan Allen at 1:32 of the second round. A rematch, then, is not just a fresh title-chasing storyline, it is also a chance for Allen to try to correct the matchup math and capitalize on how much both fighters have evolved since that 2020 meeting.

For Allen, the timing is also about momentum. Yahoo’s report described him as entering the discussion on a run that has him at three straight wins, positioning him as an opponent the promotion can justify keeping active while still funneling contenders toward Strickland. In a stacked 185-pound division, that matters, because one more “almost” fight can turn into another wait behind names the UFC wants to test first against each other.

The rematch angle also speaks to how Allen views his best chance at the belt. Strickland is known for a pressure-driven style and willingness to fight on the edge of what is safe, and Allen’s argument is essentially that he has both the form and the familiarity to make the next attempt meaningful. Even if the UFC ultimately decides to steer contenders toward different matchups, a public call like this is a clear message about where Allen thinks the division’s pecking order should land.

Still, the UFC booking process is not a vote, and a challenger’s request is only one piece of the puzzle. Title fights depend on training readiness, risk management, and the availability of other top contenders who may be in line for big bouts of their own. In the middleweight title picture, that means Allen’s statement does not guarantee a Strickland rematch, but it does make his intentions unmistakable.

What to watch next is whether the UFC treats Allen’s momentum as the ticket into the championship mix. If matchmakers grant him the Strickland conversation sooner rather than later, the rivalry theme becomes a central storyline for the 185-pound season. If not, Allen’s next step will still be telling, because his ability to keep winning at a high level will be the argument for why he should not be overlooked when the champion finally chooses the next challenger.