Arnold Allen EXCLUSIVE: I didn’t think Georges St. Pierre liked me, not liking trash-talking in UFC and future plans
Arnold Allen is the British featherweight ranked 13 in the world on an eight-fight win streak and talkSPORT was given the chance to pick his brain
The UK has a growing presence in the UFC and has made great strides over the past five to ten years, but today, they only have four athletes in the rankings.
Darren Till, Leon Edwards, Joanne Calderwood and now, Arnold Allen. Of course, we're not forgetting Ireland's Conor McGregor, it's just semantics.
Allen, 26, is now 16-1 following his last win and he sits on a winning streak of eight. That form has seen the UFC move the Suffolk-born star into 13th on their featherweight rankings.
Following Allen's victory over Gilbert Melendez at UFC 239 last Saturday, talkSPORT caught up with the rising featherweight star to talk about all things 'Almighty'.
Congratulations on your win last weekend. How did you go about that and how are you feeling now?
Thank you! Yes, feeling great right now. I'm going to take a week off and then get back into training ready for the next one. I'd like to fight again this year, I think December would be a good one for me. I've got a few knocks that need to heal up - my hand being one of them - but then I'd definitely like to fight again this year.
As far as the fight went, I've got a great team around me and they prepared me really well for it, like they always do. I put my trust in them and it's really working out for me.
You're apart of Georges St. Pierre's Tristar gym, how did that come to be?
I always wanted to join one of the big gyms and I set about trying some and finding one that fit me. Tristar was the first gym that I tried and I never gave another a go! It's not just about GSP being there, though. Obviously, he's a legend, but it's more about the fantastic team there. The facilities are great, the other fighters I train with are all world-class so it's just the perfect mix really.
What's your relationship like with GSP?
I like to go about my business like he did. I don't need to trash-talk my opponents to make a name for myself, my performances seem to be getting my name out there and that's how I prefer it. GSP never had to lower himself to anyone and I feel like I'm the same.
When I joined the gym, I thought he didn't like me at first! He didn't seem impressed with what I was doing and didn't say much so I thought 'oh, I've pissed him off' [laughs]. He was talkative to the rest of them! But after I had been there a few weeks he asked me if I was hanging around and said that I was family now, so obviously I was delighted to hear that.
You operate at featherweight. Conor McGregor is a former featherweight champion and just one weight above now, is that a dream fight?
I know there's not a lot in it weight wise but he is one weight above me right now. He's in it for big money fights and I don't see him coming calling me for just yet [laughs]. I'd obviously love to one day. You won't find many fighters who would say any differently. The fact that it would be a big domestic clash, as it were, certainly adds to it. But I'm focused on my own goals right now.
You picked up a win over Jordan Rinaldi at UFC London in February, do you prefer fighting at home?
The atmosphere back home is always great and they certainly give you that bit extra. I'm a local-ish boy and it's nice to feel them wanting you to win. But, I was just on one of the UFC's biggest cards in recent memory and I didn't feel out of place or overawed at all. So that was a nice feeling, too.
Describe yourself as a fighter
I think I'm very well rounded. There's not a particular area where I'm lacking. I train absolutely everything. I don't really understand it when you hear 'oh, this guy is a striker' and that's what they work on. I just think 'OK, I'll take you down then!'. I can adapt to whatever situation and during this eight-fight win streak I think I've proven that. I'd certainly like to score more finishes on people and get people talking with a KO or two and I'll look to make that happen when the opportunity presents itself.
What's next on the agenda?
I'm going to rest up and then train for an end-of-year fight. I'm ranked 13th now and I'm not looking behind me. I want to fight guys who are ranked above me and make my way to Max Holloway as quickly as possible. It's that simple. I just need to keep doing what I'm doing but making the rankings is a big step in the right direction