Brendan Allen Reveals Title-Only Fight Pact With Friend Khamzat Chimaev

Brendan Allen wants a fight with Khamzat Chimaev — but only if the stakes could not be higher. The middleweight contender revealed on MMA Junkie Radio that he and Chimaev, who are friends, have a standing agreement: they will only share the Octagon if a UFC title is on the line.

"We have the agreement that we're not going to fight each other unless it's for gold," Allen said. "So, if it's for the belt, then we're gonna fight. Fighting for the belt changes my life, and it changes my family. Everyone that I've ever come in contact with knows that about me: if it's for a belt, there are no questions that's gonna be asked from my end."

Allen has earned the right to make that demand. He extended his UFC winning streak to four in his last outing, submitting Christian Leroy Duncan in the fifth round at UFC Vegas 122, and immediately called out former champion Dricus du Plessis.

Chimaev, meanwhile, is rebuilding after his first professional defeat — he lost the UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in May and has been seeking a rematch, though Nassourdine Imavov appears positioned to receive the next title shot.

A friendship preserved by a golden caveat, then — unless the championship comes between them.