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What’s Next For Arnold Allen?

Originally posted on BoxingNews.com | Last updated Nov 27, 2025 11:21 PM ET

UFC featherweight Arnold Allen is reportedly set to face Jean Silva in his Octagon return at UFC 324, which would be under the first card of the UFC’s new broadcasting deal with Paramount+, with the card to take place on January 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Allen’s last fight was a win over Giga Chikadze at UFC 304 in July 2024, which ended his two-fight losing streak following defeats to Max Holloway and Movsar Evloev. Allen knows a win puts him into the title conversation in a division where Diego Lopes, Yair Rodriguez and Aljamain Sterling are some of the names vying for a shot against the featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. While the fight is not yet officially confirmed by the UFC, Allen vs. Silva appears to be in the works.

Options

The two most logical opponents for Allen are Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy. Evloev currently sits at the top of the contender rankings and already holds a close decision victory over Allen from January 2024. If Evloev is not granted the next title shot, a rematch with Allen makes perfect sense. A win for Allen here would avenge the loss and give him an undeniable claim to the next title shot.

If it is not Evloev, then it could be Murphy. With a dominant win in his last outing, he’s also looking to earn his first title shot. A win over Murphy would give Allen a fresh, highly-ranked victim and solidify his standing above all other non-title challengers.

Yair Rodriguez could also be an alternative. He is a former interim champion, known for his unpredictable offense and would present a completely different challenge than the grappling-heavy Evloev. The winner would move directly into the championship conversation. A win over a former belt-holder like Rodriguez would carry significant weight for Allen’s resume.

This article first appeared on BoxingNews.com and was syndicated with permission.

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