10th ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight Christian Leroy Duncan suffered a fifth round submission loss Brendan Allen at the main event of the year UFC Vegas 122 last night (Saturday, October 10, 2026) at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada (watch the highlights).
Shortly after the first stoppage loss of his pro career, Duncan made a brief statement on Instagram.
“Thank you for the experiences that keep us going,” Duncan wrote. “Nothing changes. The fire is too bright to put out. The chase continues. Back to work.”
Allen warned Duncan before the fight thatbetter catch me early”, promising to test the mettle of the rising contender as their five-round match heads into deep water.
That’s exactly what happened.
Duncan remained competitive in the championship, but Allen’s experience, stamina and wrestling eventually became too much. “All-In” secured the submission in the fifth round, halting Duncan’s rapid rise to the top of the middleweight division.
The loss snapped Duncan’s five-game winning streak, which included wins over the former title challenger Jared Cannonier and Roman Dolidzewith a brutal knockout wins Marcus Tullius and Eric Anders (watch the highlights).
Duncan’s momentum has certainly taken a hit, but his stock shouldn’t drop too dramatically. “CLD” is still 8-3 inside the Octagon and at 31 years old is still one of the most dangerous strikers in the middleweight division.
He will probably have to fight backwards in the rankings in his next appearance.
How about a co-striker Roman Kopylov?
Click for results, coverage and highlights from the UFC Vegas 122 fight card HERE.
