Brandon Allen has a bit of belt envy.

One of his Shift MMA teammates – David “Redneck” Mundell – defends his BKFC World Middleweight Championship for the first time in the Main Event of BKFC 47 on July 14 in Lakeland, FL. In the Co-Main Event of BKFC 47, fellow Shift MMA fighter Jared “Captain Deadpool” Warren vies for the vacant Interim BKFC World Light-Heavyweight Championship.

Allen couldn’t be happier for his teammates, and their success fuels his climb to the top of the stacked BKFC featherweight division. The 33-year-old Tampa, FL fighter is currently the No. 3 contender in the weight class.

“I’m super hungry for that, so I’m extra excited,” Allen says when asked about the prospect of fighting for the BKFC World Featherweight Championship by the end of 2023. 

“I want to finish this one convincingly, get my shot at the belt, and add a third strap to the gym before the end of the year. I keep promising the whole gym that I’m going to do that – it will be my Christmas gift to my teammates.” 

Allen also returns to action at BKFC 47. He’ll try to climb to 4-1 in the BKFC Squared Circle with a fourth straight victory at the expense of the undefeated Seth Shaffer (2-0, 2 KOs).

Allen is impatiently counting down the seconds to fight night.

“I’m so ready; I wish that we could do it tomorrow,” he says with a laugh. “The time before a fight really drags for me. I was just telling my coach that, and I hate it – I really hate it.”

But he says it’ll be worth the wait.

“A lot of people keep saying how great he is, so I just want to outclass him. I want to take him out to deep waters – I want to take him all five rounds and see if he can really fight,” says Allen, who’s riding high after back-to-back stoppage victories.

“If he folds, he folds – that’s on him,” he adds. “But I’ve got some gas for him. I’m ready.”