LAS VEGAS – Christian Leroy Duncan was elated when the replace came.
He would not be preventing Brendan Allen on the UFC 332 principal card in Salt Lake City, no. Instead, his face would be prominently featured on the poster with a UFC Fight Night 290 principal occasion reserving. That bout takes place Saturday at Meta APEX and the always laid-back Duncan (15-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) feels the same he always has for this one – perhaps just a little more appreciative for the second.
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“To compete against Allen, it’s a big opportunity,” Duncan informed MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight information convention Wednesday. “I think he main (evented) one of the cards here in the APEX when I first come here to the UFC. To now be able to main (event) against him is an amazing opportunity. When I first heard that we were fighting, it was originally set to be in Utah last weekend. I wouldn’t have been the main event, though. To now step up and be a five-rounder, we’ve had to adjust training in a certain way. It’s five rounds. It made the excitement even more so the preparations were very, very good.”
Duncan, 31, has been acknowledged as one of the middleweight division’s prime rising stars since his emergence as a contender for main European regional promotion Cage Warriors. But that does not imply the street has been straightforward, nor does it imply it’s been flawless.
In July 2024, Duncan lost a unanimous determination to Gregory Rodrigues, a fighter who has emerged as a prime contender in current performances. It was a needed growing ache, according to Duncan, who has won 5 fights in a row heading into the Allen (27-7 MMA, 15-4 UFC) battle.
“I’m glad that happened early in my career,” Duncan said. “You can iron out those things that you need to put me on this momentum I’m riding right now. I came into both the sport and the UFC very green. I came into the sport not having any kind of background in MMA. I picked everything up as I went along in the UFC. We had some learning lessons on the way and that made me go and step out and get some next-level kind of training. I’m around some great people. I’ve got some great mentors now. You can see the evolution of my abilities.”
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Saturday’s headliner is an important bout for the division and will seemingly propel the victor into a title eliminator-type matchup next time out. Duncan respects Allen tremendously but is assured his talents will get him the nod whether the battle lasts 5 rounds or 5 seconds.
“It was a grueling camp to get prepared for what Allen brings. We’ve done everything we need to do to be prepared. To be in the main event, it’s a massive opportunity. I would say in terms of pressure, there’s no more pressure than what I’ve felt in my previous fights. I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform and my confidence comes from my training and my performances. In terms of the opportunity it brings, it’s huge. In terms of me and my mindset, it’s the same as any other fighter.
“… I’d say Brendan is a younger veteran. He’s been in the UFC since 2018. I was an newbie then. He’s refined his skillset. He’s matured in the UFC. He has a very particular path to victory in his fights. He’s good at what he does. Him understanding and him being a good fighter, he knows what I deliver to the desk. We’re ready for that model of him. I like to pay respect to these kind of fighters by making sure I’m there and prepared to give them the battle they deserve. … Him being top-five ranked and the means the division is shifting with attention-grabbing motion at the prime now, I really feel it will put my title in that hat toward a contender.”
This article initially appeared on MMA Junkie: Christian Leroy Duncan elated by first UFC principal occasion vs. ‘younger veteran’ Brendan Allen
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