UFC featherweight contender Arnold Allen recently revealed a surprising incident that occurred while he was training in Montreal, Canada. The British MMA star disclosed that he was jumped and assaulted on the street simply because he wasn’t speaking French, leaving him with visible bruises on his face.
Allen made the revelation while filming a prediction video for UFC 321, addressing his appearance directly to concerned fans.
“I’m in Montreal currently training for stuff and I got beat up in the street because I wasn’t using French,” Allen explained candidly. “Got jumped because I didn’t speak French. So that’s what the bruises are all about. Don’t worry about it.”
The incident highlights ongoing tensions in Montreal regarding language use, where French is the predominant language and protected under Quebec’s language laws. While the city is cosmopolitan and hosts many international visitors and athletes, some residents feel strongly about preserving French as the primary language of communication.
The fighter initially tried to downplay the severity of his injuries, mentioning that it “wasn’t even a hard sparring day” before clarifying that the bruises were actually from the street attack, combined with some light sparring incidents. The visible marks on his face suggested the assault was more than just a minor altercation.
Despite the traumatic experience, Allen maintained his professionalism and continued with his training camp. He remains focused on securing a bout in December and is using his time in Montreal to prepare accordingly.
The British star has established himself as a legitimate contender in the UFC’s featherweight division.
