Dana White was disappointed in Arnold Allen’s corner.
Arnold Allen was set for his second straight UFC main event and was taking on Max Holloway in the main event of UFC Kansas City. Entering the fight, Holloway was the betting favorite and he proved why as he controlled the action and won a clear-cut decision. However, Allen put up a fight and White thought the Brit fought well.
Dana White On Arnold Allen
“I think that Allen looked incredible. I mean, if you think about it, it’s his first big night ever in a main event, whole crowd’s against him, and he came on too late,” White said after UFC Kansas City. “If he had fought the way he fought in the fifth round from the third round on, he would’ve had a better chance to win the fight.”
In the fifth round, Allen fought aggressively and took it to Holloway which may have won him the final round. White believes had Allen been the aggressive fighter from the get-go the result may have been different. With that, the UFC boss thinks Allen’s corner let him down by not telling him to be aggressive early.
“I’m not a corner man or a coach, but yeah, I think there should’ve been a sense of urgency earlier,” White said. “But I’m not a corner man… It’s a lot of pressure for a guy (in his first UFC main event). I thought he handled it well. He’s obviously talented enough. He went five rounds with Max Holloway, one of the best ever. I just think he poured it on a little too late. But I’m not his corner man.”
Arnold Allen (19-2) suffered his first UFC loss on Saturday night and had his 12-fight winning streak snapped, as he entered the fight being 10-0 in the UFC. In his UFC tenure, Allen had notable wins over Calvin Kattar, Dan Hooker, Sodiq Yusuff, and Gilbert Melendez among others.
