Arnold Allen is competing on the same night as Most Valuable Promotion’s inaugural MMA event, and he’s got no issues keeping it real.
Allen (20-4 MMA, 11-3 UFC) meets Melquizael Costa (26-7 MMA, 7-2 UFC) in the UFC Fight Night 276 headliner May 16 from the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano also takes place May 16, headlining MVP’s card that will also feature the MMA returns of Nate Diaz and Francis Ngannou.
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Allen admits the lack of star power on his card proves the UFC was not concerned about going head-to-head with MVP.
“I mean, the fact it’s me and Melky headlining against them, I don’t think the UFC are really trying to compete, right?” Allen said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “Not trying to put me and Melky down, but let’s be real: star power. Like, they ain’t trying to compete.
“They’re not going to try to compete with that. I don’t think they really care. I know you have a vested interest in it, but I know what fight I’d rather watch. I’m not going to talk sh*t, but let’s be real. This is two guys in our primes, at the height of MMA. It’s at the Meta APEX. That kind of blows, but the fight itself is sick.”
Allen will look to rebound from his decision loss to Jean Silva at UFC 324 in January. Meanwhile, red-hot Costa is on a six-fight winning streak, most recently scoring a spinning back kick finish of Dan Ige at at UFC Fight Night 267.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC headliner unfazed by going head-to-head with Rousey vs. Carano
