ARNOLD ALLEN reckons he can punch his ticket to a featherweight title shot with a win over future UFC Hall of Famer Max Holloway.
The East Anglia Assassin is on the cusp of becoming only the fifth Brit to challenge for UFC gold thanks to a perfect stint inside the octagon.
Ten wins on the trot have earned Allen the No4 spot in the 145lbs rankings and a main event slot with former champion Holloway in Kansas City early on Sunday morning.
And he reckons he's a shoo-in for the next shot at the belt if he gets past the beloved and ever-dangerous Holloway.
He told SunSport: "It's the one [that gets me a title fight].
"As soon as they announced the interim fight, the next best thing was to fight the No1 guy. He's the guy [to beat].
READ MORE IN MMA
Israel Adesanya KNOCKS OUT Alex Pereira at UFC 287 to reclaim middleweight title
Best Grand National betting sites and free bets
"If you want to be the champion of the featherweight division and you haven't got past Max Holloway, do you deserve to be champion?"
Despite his clash with Holloway undoubtedly being the biggest fight of his career, Allen is treating it like any other bout.
He said: "It's definitely the biggest fight of my career. I'm not approaching it any differently and I'm not stressing any more about it.
"It's just another fight and it's a good opportunity."
Most read in MMA
Paige VanZant joins no bra club as she shows off her curves and new look
UFC presenter forced to deny she has a crush on fighter after viral joke
Conor McGregor shares glam pic as he laps up sunshine on €3.5m Lamborghini yacht
Hasbulla 'finally scared of someone' as he runs away from UFC star with toy gun
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
The 29-year-old continued: "I don't feel any extra pressure. It's the opportunity I want. It's the opportunity I asked for.
"It's very rare that I ask for something and it's very rare that I do.
"So to ask for it and to get it and to have the opportunity for it in a headline event against Max Holloway is great."
Fan-favourite Holloway will look to use surging contender Allen as a stepping stone for another title shot, although he'll be hard-pressed for one if champion Alexander Volkanovski retains the belt against Yair Rodriguez in July.
Holloway has gone 0-3 against the Aussie but was at his imperious best in his recent wins over Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez.
And Allen is expecting to face the version of Blessed who terrorised featherweights during his five-year unbeaten run in the division.
He said: "Volkanovski looked so good and you fight him three times – Max arguably won two of those.
"I gave him at least one. The last one, no question, he got dominated.
"But I think that's more a credit to Volkanovski than a knock on Max. Then you see how good he looked against Islam [Makhachev]."
Allen continued: "He is elite, he's a top-tier guy and championship calibre.
"But Volkanovski just seems to be on another level at the minute."
Holloway has begun to accumulate a lot of damage in recent years and holds the record for the most strikes absorbed in UFC history.
Holloway has yet to be knocked down in his career, but Allen believes he can put Blessed down and out for the count.
He said: "I believe in my power. I know he's fought some heavy hitters and not been stopped.
Read More on The Sun
People are just realising why some buildings have bricks instead of windows
Amazing UK seaside pub with ‘best views’ lets you spot dolphins with a pint
"He's taken a pasting off Dustin Poirier and kept going.
"But I believe I hit differently. Not necessarily harder, but I've got something."
Source: Read Full Article
