Arnold Allen
British mixed martial artist (born 1994)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arnold Billy Allen (born 22 January 1994) is a British professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).[3] As of 12 September 2026, he is #6 in the Meta UFC featherweight rankings.[5]
| Arnold Allen | |
|---|---|
Arnold Allen at UFC Fight Night 147 in London | |
| Born | Arnold Billy Allen[1] 22 January 1994 Ipswich, Suffolk, England |
| Other names | Almighty |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb) |
| Division | Bantamweight (2012–2013) Featherweight (2013–present) Lightweight (2014) |
| Reach | 70 in (178 cm)[2] |
| Fighting out of | Trimley St Martin, Suffolk, England |
| Team | BKK Fighters, UK Tristar Gym[3] |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Mark Nixon[4] |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 3 |
| Wins | 3 |
| Losses | 0 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 25 |
| Wins | 21 |
| By knockout | 7 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 10 |
| Losses | 4 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Amateur mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 7 |
| Wins | 7 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Losses | 0 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Background
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
He made his professional debut competing as a featherweight for various regional promotions across Great Britain, including a stint in Cage Warriors. He was able to compile a record of 9–1 in his first three years along the way.[citation needed]
After his TKO stoppage of Paul Cook in November 2014, Allen signed with the UFC.[6]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Allen made his promotional debut on 20 June 2015 as a short notice replacement filling in for an injured Mike Wilkinson against Alan Omer at UFC Fight Night 69.[7] After probably dropping the first two rounds, Allen won the fight via submission in the third round.[8] He was also awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.[9]
Allen next faced Yaotzin Meza on 27 February 2016 at UFC Fight Night 84.[10] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[11]
Allen was expected to face Mirsad Bektic on 8 October 2016 at UFC 204.[12] However, due to injury, Allen withdrew from the fight and was replaced by Russell Doane.[13]
Allen faced Makwan Amirkhani on 18 March 2017 at UFC Fight Night 107.[14] He won the fight by split decision.[15]
Allen was scheduled to face Enrique Barzola at UFC 220 on 20 January 2018.[16] However, Allen was pulled from the fight on 11 January due to alleged visa issues which restricted his ability to travel.[17] Following this announcement, It was determined that Allen would be replaced by Matt Bessette at UFC 220.[18]
Allen faced Mads Burnell on 27 May 2018 at UFC Fight Night 130.[19] He won the fight via front choke submission in the third round.[20] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[21]
Allen was expected to face Gilbert Melendez on 30 November 2018 at The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale.[22] However, Melendez pulled out of the fight on 5 November and was replaced by Ricky Glenn.[23] In turn, Allen pulled out of the fight on 16 November citing a cut he received while training.[24]
Allen faced Jordan Rinaldi on 16 March 2019 at UFC Fight Night 147.[25] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[26]
Allen faced Gilbert Melendez on 6 July 2019 at UFC 239.[27] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[28]
Allen was expected to face Josh Emmett on 25 January 2020 at UFC Fight Night 166.[29] However Emmett was pulled from the event for an undisclosed reason,[30] and he was replaced by Nik Lentz whose original featherweight opponent also dropped out of the event.[31] Allen won the fight via unanimous decision.[32] Lentz would later claim he lost 40% of his vision after being poked in the eye by Allen.
Allen was scheduled to face Jeremy Stephens on 7 November 2020 at UFC on ESPN 17.[33] However, Stephens was forced to withdraw from the event, citing injury. In turn, the bout was cancelled.[34]
Allen faced Sodiq Yusuff on 10 April 2021 at UFC on ABC 2.[35] After knocking Yusuff down twice, he won the fight via unanimous decision.[36]
Allen faced Dan Hooker at UFC Fight Night 204.[37] He won the fight via technical knockout in the first round.[38] With this win, he received the Performance of the Night award.[39]
Allen faced Calvin Kattar on 29 October 2022 at UFC Fight Night 213,[40] winning via technical knockout following a knee injury to Kattar.[41]
Allen faced former UFC Featherweight champion Max Holloway on 15 April 2023 at UFC on ESPN 44,[42] where he lost via unanimous decision, ending his win streak in the UFC.[43]
Allen faced Movsar Evloev on 20 January 2024, at UFC 297.[44] In a competitive bout, he lost by unanimous decision.[45]
Allen faced Giga Chikadze on 27 July 2024, at UFC 304.[46] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[47]
Allen faced Jean Silva on 24 January 2026, at UFC 324.[48] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[49]
Allen faced Melquizael Costa on 16 May 2026 in the main event at UFC Fight Night 276.[50] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[51]
Allen was scheduled to face Aaron Pico on 24 October 2026 at UFC 333.[52] However, Allen withdrew due to an injury and was replaced by Losene Keita.[53]
Personal life
Allen was issued a five-month suspended sentence after he pleaded guilty to affray, for his role in a 23 December 2016 brawl near Ipswich which left a man and five women injured.[54][55]
His brother, Jake, participates in Strongman and is currently[when?] European Champion in the 90kg weight class.[citation needed]
Championships and accomplishments
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (Three times) vs. Alan Omer, Mads Burnell and Dan Hooker[9][21][39]
- Third longest win streak in UFC Featherweight division history (10)[56]
- Sixth most wins in UFC Featherweight division history (12)[56]
- Tied (Cub Swanson) for sixth most decision wins in UFC Featherweight division history (8)[56]
- Made4TheCage
- M4TC Lightweight Championship (One time; former)
Mixed martial arts record
| 25 matches | 21 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 7 | 0 |
| By submission | 4 | 0 |
| By decision | 10 | 4 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 21–4 | Melquizael Costa | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Costa | 16 May 2026 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 20–4 | Jean Silva | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 324 | 24 January 2026 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 20–3 | Giga Chikadze | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 304 | 27 July 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Manchester, England | |
| Loss | 19–3 | Movsar Evloev | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 297 | 20 January 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| Loss | 19–2 | Max Holloway | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Holloway vs. Allen | 15 April 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 19–1 | Calvin Kattar | TKO (knee injury) | UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Allen | 29 October 2022 | 2 | 0:08 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 18–1 | Dan Hooker | TKO (punches and elbows) | UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall | 19 March 2022 | 1 | 2:33 | London, England | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 17–1 | Sodiq Yusuff | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland | 10 April 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 16–1 | Nik Lentz | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos | 25 January 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Raleigh, North Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 15–1 | Gilbert Melendez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 239 | 6 July 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 14–1 | Jordan Rinaldi | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Till vs. Masvidal | 16 March 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Win | 13–1 | Mads Burnell | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Till | 27 May 2018 | 3 | 2:41 | Liverpool, England | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 12–1 | Makwan Amirkhani | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Manuwa vs. Anderson | 18 March 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Win | 11–1 | Yaotzin Meza | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping | 27 February 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Win | 10–1 | Alan Omer | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Jędrzejczyk vs. Penne | 20 June 2015 | 3 | 1:41 | Berlin, Germany | Return to Featherweight. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 9–1 | Paul Cook | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Made 4 the Cage 15 | 29 November 2014 | 2 | 5:00 | Tyne and Wear, England | Lightweight debut. Won the M4TC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–1 | Gaetano Pirello | Decision (unanimous) | Cage Warriors 71 | 22 August 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Amman, Jordan | |
| Loss | 7–1 | Marcin Wrzosek | Decision (unanimous) | Cage Warriors 69 | 7 June 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Win | 7–0 | Tobias Huber | TKO (punches) | Cage Warriors: Fight Night 11 | 18 April 2014 | 1 | 0:37 | Amman, Jordan | |
| Win | 6–0 | Doni Miller | TKO (punches) | Cage Warriors 61 | 13 December 2013 | 2 | 0:34 | Amman, Jordan | |
| Win | 5–0 | Declan Williams | Submission (triangle choke) | Cage Warriors 60 | 5 October 2013 | 2 | 4:50 | London, England | |
| Win | 4–0 | Andy Green | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Cage Warriors 56 | 6 July 2013 | 1 | 4:00 | London, England | |
| Win | 3–0 | Carl Orriss | Decision (unanimous) | Ultimate Challenge MMA 32 | 2 February 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 2–0 | Kim Thinghaugen | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Ultimate Warrior Challenge 21 | 20 October 2012 | 1 | 5:00 | Southend-on-Sea, England | |
| Win | 1–0 | Nathan Greyson | KO (punch) | Ultimate Challenge MMA 27 | 7 April 2012 | 2 | 0:40 | London, England | Bantamweight debut. |