Arnold Allen’s Response to a Fan Just Revealed His Next Big Fight

Arnold Allen is quietly working his way back into the UFC title conversation after a bumpy stretch at the top of the featherweight division.

Holding a record of 20–3, the English standout bounced back at UFC 304, earning a solid unanimous decision win over Giga Chikadze.

It was a return to form after dropping back-to-back fights against elite names like Max Holloway and Movsar Evloev.

That most recent loss to Evloev an undefeated prospect who many believed could be the next big thing was a tough setback, but Allen showed resilience in his performance and rebounded quickly.

The featherweight division, now once again ruled by Alexander Volkanovski, remains stacked with talent, and Allen’s name stays relevant with each win.

So when a fan asked Allen on Instagram, “Who you fighting next big boy?” the response was both casual and explosive.

“Yair,” he wrote.

Read: more: UFC 318 Main Card Fighter Pulls Out

Yair Rodríguez Confirmed as Next Opponent?

That brief reply confirmed what many fans had speculated but hadn’t yet heard officially Yair Rodríguez appears to be Allen’s next opponent.

Rodríguez is coming off a short-notice victory against Patricio “Pitbull” Freire, which stirred controversy in the MMA community.

Some believed Yair was being set up for an underserved title shot despite his previous loss to Volkanovski.

This new matchup with Allen may silence that chatter and force Yair to earn his spot back among the top contenders.

Featherweight Division Shifts Again

With Ilia Topuria now having moved up and taken the lightweight title and Volkanovski reclaiming his position as the king of 145 the division’s landscape is wide open for fresh contenders.

A high-stakes matchup between Allen and Rodríguez fits perfectly into that narrative.

Stylistically, it’s a thrilling clash. Allen’s clean boxing and measured approach will collide with

Rodríguez’s flashy kicks and aggressive creativity. Both men have something to prove Allen’s looking for his first true top-three win, while Yair wants to reestablish himself as a title challenger after falling short in his unification bout.