Arnold Allen is “angry” pre-UFC 324 and has “a point to prove”

Arnold Allen returns to the cage at UFC 324 after almost a year and a half out of competition with the aim to reintroduce himself to the featherweight ranks in a big way. During an interview with UFC on TNT Sports, the highly anticipated return of the exciting combatant at 145 pounds was touched upon, as Allen said,

“I’m so excited to be back. Having this time out is… It’s time. I don’t want any time out. I’m angry and coming back with a point to prove. I always have a point to prove, but now there’s more of a point to prove.”

Former UFC middleweight champ Michael Bisping was working as a desk analyst at this juncture, and as he bounced off of what Allen mentioned, Bisping stated,

“Given the fact that you say you’re angry as well, and I fully understand that, and probably a more accurate word is frustrated. Has he been annoying you a little bit? Because yesterday at the press conference, you know, you looked like you were ready to just get out and go crack him.”

To that comment from Bisping, Allen responded,

“No, no, no. He’s been lovely He’s actually been very pleasant. Him, his wife, they come and give me a hug. You know, beautiful people.”

Arnold Allen has title shot in his crosshairs with a strong showing at UFC 324

While Arnold Allen has been outside of the cage for almost 18 months, a win over someone like Jean Silva could put him in prime position for a title shot. This was expressed by double A during the fight week media day and the logic that Allen expressed to on-site reporters made a degree of sense, proximity-wise.

With Diego Lopes besting Jean Silva in September 2025 and netting a title shot thereafter, a fellow featherweight fighter connected the dots in that regard, as Allen quipped [via MMA Junkie],

“It’s literally freshly proven that beating Jean Silva gets you a title fight, right? So, I don’t know. The numbers next to your name literally do not mean a thing.”