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Christian Leroy Duncan’s momentum has hit a snag, but he isn’t about to dwell on the roadblock.

Duncan entered the Meta Apex this past Saturday in hopes of earning the biggest win of his pro MMA career to date in the UFC Vegas 122 main event. “CLD” had a strong opening round, but Allen turned things around in the second stanza with his offense in top control. Duncan made things close in the third and fourth round, but “All In” ultimately secured the rear-naked choke finish in the fifth round.

This marks the end of Duncan’s five-fight winning streak, but the Gloucester native doesn’t plan on wavering. Duncan delivered a brief message on his Instagram account in response to his first defeat since 2024.

“Thankful for the experiences that carry us forward,” Duncan said. “Nothing Changes. The fire is too bright to dampen. The pursuit continues, back to work.”

Allen is hoping that his win over Duncan will push him towards a grudge match against Dricus du Plessis. Prior to the UFC Vegas 122 win, Allen told media members that his goal for 2027 is to get a win over du Plessis and then fight for the UFC middleweight title. “All In’s” victory over Duncan is a good start, and whether or not he can earn a world title will be a story to watch.

Duncan has his own dreams of become a UFC champion, and while a loss to Allen is a setback, “All In” is a top five-ranked middleweight. If Duncan get back on the horse and put together some consecutive wins, he could find himself in that list of top 185-pound contenders. The question now becomes, will Duncan rise to the occasion or slip away?

What do you think is Christian Leroy Duncan’s ceiling? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM