Arnold Allen Fit And Raring To Go: ‘Ideally I Want A Fight Before March’
UFC featherweight Arnold Allen hasn’t fought since March, but if he has his way, fans won’t have to wait too much longer before they see him in action again.
Speaking to MMANytt.com this past week, Allen explained his absence and why it’d been so long since he’d fought. Suffice to say, he’s ready more than ever to get back into the UFC Octagon and he’s holding out hope that he can return before UFC London on March 17.
“I’ve been here in Canada for five months now and I was trying to get a fight earlier this year,” Allen said. “I got a fracture in my hand sparring though and I messed it up. I had to turn down the offer, but it’s all good now.
“I was offered a fight with Josh Emmett on the Poland card, but yeah, I couldn’t really take it with one hand. I’m good to go now though so hopefully something before March would be great. I spoke to Sean about fighting before the end of the year, but now that’s looking pretty doubtful. If I could get on the Dec. 30 UFC 219 card and then London in March that would’ve been great, but that would’ve been in an ideal world.”
Hoping to fight in the US
Allen admits that fighting in the UK in front of his home crowd does have it’s benefits, but he’s hoping he can get an opportunity on a card overseas rather than having to wait around.
“I do love fighting in the UK and London, but I would love to fight in the US,” Allen said. “I just don’t want to have to wait around for cards in the UK or Europe.
“I messed my hand up in a sparring session and I was sparring top guys with just a jab and some kicks for months. I’ve been trying to get stay fit and I’m just ready.”
Unwilling to fake it
While he’s not a man to call people out, Allen did have a name in mind that he would’ve like to have fought. Calling people and out talking trash just isn’t his style though and he’s not willing to be anything but himself in the public eye.
“I wanted to fight Dennis Siver before he left the UFC because he was coming off a big win against BJ Penn and he’s a well known name coming towards the end of his career,” Allen said. “That would’ve been great, but I’ve not put much thought into it. Andre Fili would be good, but in just not within me to talk s*** about people and call them out.
“I’ve thought before about asking for fights with people in a nice way, but obviously that doesn’t really seems to work. Obviously you have to call someone names give them s***. It’s just not my style. If I try I’ll just looks a muppet.”
Tales from Tristar
Allen is currently living out in Montreal where he trains at the infamous Tristar gym. The Brit gets to work with outstanding fighters ever day and he explained some of the relationship he has with some of the more well known members of the gym.
“The only thing I’ve done with Georges St-Pierre recently is he asked me something about Bisping,” Allen said. “He said, ‘Bisping called me a t***’ and he asked me what that meant. I had to explain to him that Bisping was calling him a t*** and what he meant by it . That’s the only help I give Georges.
“I’ve got some tips off Rory for my ground and pound, obviously his top control and his ground and pound is nasty. He’s amazing. I’m wrestling right now with a guy called Gia Sissaouri. He won a silver medal in freestyle at the 1996 Olympics and he’s amazing. I spar with a lot of amazing guys here as well. Mirsad Bektic is here right now and the guy Mandel Nallo. Trust me he’s going to be doing some big things. He murders people in the gym. I won’t say names, but he’s a crazy talent.”
