UFC 324's Arnold Allen on Lengthy Layoff: 'For the Last Year I Lost My Mind'
Arnold Allen hasn't fought since July 2024. |Getty/UFC
By the time Arnold Allen steps into the Octagon at UFC 324 on Saturday, more than a year and a half will have passed since his last fight.
The 31-year-old Englishman hasn't competed since July 2024, when he defeated Giga Chikadze in a featherweight clash at UFC 304. That snapped a two-bout losing streak for Allen, who began his promotional tenure with 10 consecutive triumphs before dropping back-to-back outings against Max Holloway and Movsar Evloev.
After besting Chikadze, "Almighty" was eager to resume his ascent toward title contention at 145 pounds, but progress was derailed by a lingering shoulder injury that took a significant amount of time to heal. He admits that the layoff took its toll on him mentally.
"For the last year, I lost my mind trying to focus on the things I can do," Allen told UFC.com. "My life is very career-driven, and I love my career -- I want to give it that push and achieve my goals -- so I'd be a liar if I didn't admit I was pissed off in that sense, and I'd also be a liar if I didn't say it trickles into my personal life sometimes."
"When I'm in camp and full focus, it's easier, because you're on task; you're on the train, and you're moving. When you're on the sidelines and injured, that sucks. I dealt with a little bit of depression because [in those moments], you can't control anything. You watch the division, watch the guys; even the controllables don't matter at that point. But we're all good, I'm in a good place, excited to perform, and excited to remind everyone who I am and what I do."
Allen will square off against Jean Silva at UFC 324 on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event will be the UFC's first card of the Paramount era, and Allen has drawn an opponent fully capable of producing fireworks in the cage. Due to his absence, Allen is well aware that he wasn't in a position to call his shot, but he believes Silva is an ideal showcase bout regardless of the rankings.
"He Brings the Heat"
"Everyone plays the rankings game, everyone wants to fight up the rankings -- that's the classic, and there are probably some easier fights up the rankings, but again, having a whole lot of time out of the fights, not competing, I can't call any shots and I don't deserve nothing," Allen said. "If you took the rankings out, [Silva] is a lot more dangerous than some of the guys above me, and he's a bigger draw."
"I'm very excited for this opportunity. He brings the heat, he's a dangerous fighter, he's a very fun fighter, and he's an all-around character outside of competition as well, so it's gonna be a good, fun fight and fight week."
For Allen, it's about much more than the opponent at this point. Simply being able to walk to the cage on fight night is something to cherish.
"I've never experienced what I've experienced through this injury -- I've always been able to work through something, always been able to be in the gym and working, so the comeback is such a big personal obstacle to overcome," he said.
"There were points where I was super-depressed, and I thought I was done; 'this injury's never gonna heal; I'm never gonna be back.' To overcome that and get back to competing is huge for me. It's more than just another fight and another win."
