Duncan targets title shot or Du Plessis after Allen fight

Christian Leroy Duncan arrives at UFC Vegas 112 this weekend carrying the weight of a six-fight winning streak and the ambition to skip past the queue. The British middleweight, fresh off a unanimous decision over Jared Cannonier in July, believes a convincing finish against Brendan Allen—the fourth-ranked middleweight—could vault him directly into title contention against Sean Strickland. It's an audacious read of the landscape, but Duncan isn't alone in seeing the path. A financial obstacle appears to be holding up the Strickland-Nassourdine Imavov matchup, and Duncan sees an opening.

"I don't see why not," Duncan told MMA Fighting when asked about the possibility of leapfrogging Imavov for a title shot. "We have a good performance this weekend, I don't see why not. I feel that I'm ready and I'll make sure that I'm ready for that time when it comes." The confidence isn't unfounded. Duncan has methodically climbed the rankings throughout 2026, fighting Roman Dolidze from the top 15, then Cannonier from the top 10, and now Allen from the top five. The natural next step, in his view, is a former champion.

If the belt remains out of reach, Duncan has a backup plan that carries its own appeal. Dricus Du Plessis, a former middleweight champion, sits in that tier of elite fighters Duncan believes he's earned the right to face. Duncan has already sketched out the ideal scenario: a dominant win over Allen this weekend, followed by a clash with Du Plessis headlining the UFC's return to London in the first quarter of 2027. "A great performance in the win this weekend definitely puts us in the top," Duncan said. "It would be great to then put my name in that hat at the top level."

Duncan's assessment of the title picture itself is measured. He acknowledges that Imavov, riding his own five-fight winning streak with recent victories over Israel Adesanya and Caio Borralho, poses genuine problems for Strickland. But he also notes that Strickland has a habit of defying expectations. "Strickland is a very awkward and difficult guy to deal with," Duncan observed. "We've seen him in fights where we didn't expect him to win, the odds were against him, and he's performed very well in those fights." Whoever emerges with the belt, Duncan says, is the fighter he's focused on.

But first comes Allen, a veteran of 19 UFC appearances who has won three straight and recently strung together back-to-back submission victories. Allen's grappling credentials are formidable, and Duncan expects to face a fighter who will attempt to dictate the terms of engagement. "Knowing the experience Allen has, how long he's been a pro fighter, how long he's been in the UFC, he knows how to fight smart," Duncan said. "I know if I was in his shoes, that's the route I would take against somebody like me."

Duncan's prediction for Saturday is unambiguous: the fight will not go the distance. "I don't expect it to go to four or five rounds," he said, though he emphasized being prepared for all scenarios. He frames the matchup as a collision between two dangerous fighters who understand the stakes. "I expect the best version of Brendan Allen. He knows it's a dangerous fight, the same way I know he's a dangerous fighter. Within those moments I make the right decisions and it's going to be an explosive fight." The six-fight winning streak, the ranked opponents, the clear-eyed ambition—all of it hinges on what happens at the Meta APEX this weekend.