On January 29, 2024, at 6:00 pm ET, Arnold Allen expressed frustration over his unanimous decision to lose to Movsar Evloev at UFC 297 held at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
While all three judges awarded Evloev Rounds 1 and 2, Allen, with a record of 19-3 MMA and 10-2 UFC, believes he should have been declared the winner. In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Allen shared his perspective on the fight, stating that he felt he won Rounds 1 and 3.
According to Allen, after reviewing the footage, he agreed with the general sentiment that he won the first and third rounds. Despite feeling disappointed, he emphasized that he didn’t want to complain or harbor ill feelings toward Evloev or his team.
In Round 3, Allen had Evloev in a front headlock and delivered three consecutive knees. However, referee Marc Goddard deemed the knees illegal and called a timeout, though no point was deducted from Allen. Despite the controversy, Allen maintained that he believed the knees were legal and had consulted the rules backstage to confirm.
Allen acknowledged the criticism directed at Goddard but expressed his respect for the referee, describing him as one of the best in the business. He believed that Goddard made a mistake in this particular instance, emphasizing the potential for a sequence leading to a finish had the fight continued.
In the aftermath of the bout, Allen expressed frustration with the outcome, particularly given the perceived legality of his strikes and the belief that he was on the verge of securing a finish.
