Brendan Allen vs. Christian Leroy Duncan prediction, odds, pick for UFC Vegas 122

The upcoming UFC Vegas 122 event features a middleweight bout between Brendan Allen and Christian Leroy Duncan. Allen, who has a record of 27-7, including 15-4 in UFC bouts, recently defeated Edmen Shahbazyan by unanimous decision in June. His winning streak stands at three fights. Allen stopped Reinier de Ridder after four rounds in October, demonstrating his endurance and versatility in the octagon.

Christian Leroy Duncan, with a record of 15-2 (8-2 in UFC), entered the fight on a five-fight winning streak after unanimous decision victories over Roman Dolidze and Jared Cannonier. These wins against ranked opponents highlight his ability to last three rounds while outperforming his opponents.

UFC Vegas 122 odds, provided by Betonline.ag, show Brendan Allen with odds of -117 and Christian Leroy Duncan with odds of +100. The over/under for the number of rounds is set at 3.5 rounds, with the line at -115 for over and -101 for under.

Allen's strategy for victory is to pressure Christian Leroy Duncan and force him into grappling exchanges. Allen's submission prowess and ability to control the fight on the ground could pose a significant threat to Duncan. However, Duncan's experience, reach, and quicker striking could challenge Allen's game plan. Allen must be cautious of Duncan's counters, particularly knees, to avoid early vulnerabilities.

On the other hand, Christian Leroy Duncan can control the fight by dictating distance and making Allen pay for every entry. His reach advantage, nimble footwork, and varied kicking attack will allow him to dictate exchanges without taking unnecessary damage. Allen's attempts at takedowns may be frustrating, but if Duncan frustrates those entries, he could gain substantial striking time.

The deciding factor in this fight will likely be the grappling matchup. Allen's submission threat could drain Duncan's energy over the later rounds, making Duncan win by decision. However, the bout's outcome remains uncertain until fight night. The final prediction is a unanimous decision victory for Brendan Allen (48-47 on the cards).