Arnold Allen talks about the advantages of having MMA legend Georges St-Pierre and UFC champion Leon Edwards helping him in training
UK MMA stalwart Arnold Allen has discussed the advantages of having MMA legend Georges St-Pierre and reigning UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards helping him train.
Speaking to ESPN MMA's Heidi Androl, the No.6-ranked UFC featherweight Allen addressed his much-awaited fight against the No.5-ranked Calvin Kattar on October 29. This will be Allen's first time competing in a UFC main event.
Preparing for his MMA bouts, Arnold Allen generally splits his training between the Tristar gym in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and the BKK Fighters gym in Colchester, UK. He's worked alongside the likes of Georges St-Pierre in Canada and Leon Edwards in his native UK.
Allen showed his respect for 'GSP,' who's a former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion, besides also praising Edwards. 'Almighty' was asked how training with the two champions has helped him, considering he could go into the championship rounds in his first five-round UFC matchup.
Allen responded by stating:
"Yeah, it's massive; getting to train with those guys. Obviously, Georges St-Pierre, one of the best guys of all time. Getting tips off him is like, you can't top that. You spar with him. He'll pick something up. He'll fix it -- One of the pound-for-pound [greats], my pound-for-pound No. 1 guy ever; gives you some tips, it sticks."
Moreover, expressing his appreciation for 'Rocky', the 28-year-old southpaw said:
"And Leon Edwards, he's a guy that's doing it now. And getting to spar with him, work with him; he's gonna bring your level on. And he's another southpaw. So, he's been in this situation too. So, yeah, it's perfect."
Interviewer Heidi Androl then opined that Arnold Allen seems well-prepared. 'Almighty' replied by asserting that he follows elite fighters such as Georges St-Pierre and Leon Edwards around, insinuating that he learns from them and continually improves himself.
Watch Allen discuss the topic at 1:58 in the video below:
Is a UFC featherweight title shot on the cards for Arnold Allen in 2023?
Touted by many as a future UFC featherweight champion, Arnold Allen has his sights set on entering the top-five ranks at featherweight by defeating Calvin Kattar.
It's believed that beating Kattar could potentially earn Allen a fight against the No. 1-ranked featherweight contender and former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway.
Interestingly, 'Blessed' is someone whom Allen has wanted to face for quite some time.
Moreover, current UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is set to move up in weight to challenge Islam Makhachev for the latter's UFC lightweight title in February 2023.
On that note, the consensus is that a win over the current top contender and former champion Holloway could fetch Allen a title shot when 'Volk' returns to featherweight later in 2023.