Brendan Allen’s fifth-round submission of Christian Leroy Duncan at UFC Vegas 122 has elevated his middleweight standing to a career-high top-five ranking and a four-fight win streak, yet the market for his next opponent stays tightly contested. Allen explicitly called out former champion Dricus du Plessis as the only logical target and confirmed he will not compete again in 2026, pushing any matchup into 2027. This timeline and Allen’s preference create uncertainty, as UFC matchmaking often prioritizes availability and divisional balance over individual callouts. Contenders such as Caio Borralho and Joe Pyfer remain viable alternatives given their recent momentum and ranking proximity, while the “Other” category absorbs the broad range of unconfirmed possibilities in a deep 185-pound division.