The UFC on ABC 2 co-main event was touted as a matchup of the “next generation” of featherweight contenders, and in the end Arnold Allen was the winner over Sodiq Yusuff.
Allen’s (17-1 MMA, 8-0 UFC) key moments of kicking power, as well as an ability to control the fight in the clinch, were the difference in a unanimous decision victory over Yusuff (11-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) by scores of 29-28 across the board.
Yusuff found himself taken down by Arnold less than 40 seconds into the fight after throwing a sloppy kick. He tried to submit Allen from bottom, then created a scramble to get the fight back up to the feet. They spent the next several minutes exchanging strikes, and eventually Allen connected with a hard left hand that made Yusuff stumble. He recovered quickly, but Allen kept good pressure on, pressing Yusuff against the fence in the late stages of the round.
The technical striking element of the fight picked up to start the second round. Both men made adjustments with their approaches, and Yusuff had some good early connections with his hands. The tide turned back in Allen’s favor, though, when he hurt Yusuff with a head kick that had him on ice skates. Somehow Yusuff recovered, but he again found himself stuck against the fence and on the wrong end of the overall action in the round.
Allen immediately shot for the takedown to start the final round, but he couldn’t keep Yusuff on the mat. He did pin him against the fence but couldn’t get anything going and eventually found himself reversed and back in Allen’s control. Allen burned the clock and rode out until the end, solidifying his victory on the scorecards.
Allen improved to 8-0 inside the octagon and took sole possession of the longest active winning streak in the UFC featherweight division after being previously tied with champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Although his name is being put alongside the champion, Allen said he needs to do more before he is mentioned as a realistic opponent.
“I’ve had a lot of decisions in the UFC,” Allen said in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier. “I wanted to call out a top five or something after this, but I wanted a finish.”
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ABC 2 results include:
- Arnold Allen def. Sodiq Yusuff via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Julian Marquez def. Sam Alvey via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:07
- Mackenzie Dern def. Nina Nunes via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 4:48
- Daniel Rodriguez def. Mike Perry via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
- Joe Solecki def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Mateusz Gamrot def. Scott Holtzman via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 1:22
- John Makdessi def. Ignacio Bahamondes via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
- Jarjis Danho def. Yorgan De Castro via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 3:02
- Jack Shore def. Hunter Azure via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
- Luis Saldana def. Jordan Griffin via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Da Un Jung def. William Knight via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
- Impa Kasanganay def. Sasha Palatnikov via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 0:26
