Brit Arnold Allen left unrecognisable with horror cut Aand swollen eye after UFC 297 loss to Movsar Evloev

ARNOLD ALLEN was left unrecognisable after suffering only his second-ever loss inside the octagon.

The East Anglia assassin returned to action early this morning in Toronto against Movsar Evloev on the main card of UFC 297.

Arnold Allen locked horns with Movsar Evloev at UFC 297 on Sunday morningGETTY

The Brit had to fend off the Russian’s wrestling heavy approachGETTY

Reuters

Allen suffered a massive cut under his left eye in the second round[/caption]

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‘Almighty’ was left with a horrific gash under his left eye – which was swollen shut[/caption]

Allen entered his clash with the Russian on the back of a decision defeat to former featherweight champ Max Holloway last April.

The 29-year-old was confident of getting back in the win column and catapulting himself further into the title picture with a win over the former M-1 champ.

But his plans were derailed by the undefeated Evloev, who frustrated him with his wrestling to earn a unanimous decision victory.

Evloev showcased a better display of striking in his eighth straight octagon win, in which he briefly dropped Allen in the second round.

The precise jab he landed as Allen stepped into range opened a cut under the Brit’s left eye, which quickly began to swell.

And come the end of the fight, it was completely closed shut – so much that Allen was left unrecognisable.

Victory over Allen will likely put Evloev on the cusp of fighting for featherweight gold.

He’ll likely leapfrog the No.4-ranked switch-hitter in the rankings come Tuesday.

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A bloodied Allen fought valiantly until the final horn to try get back in the win column[/caption]

But it remains to be seen whether the UFC brass deems him worthy of fighting the winner of champion Alexander Volkanovski’s title defence against Ilia Topuria next month.

Evloev, however, believes he’s done more than enough to scrap for the belt next.

The 29-year-old said of Allen: “He’s a good fighter, he’s tough.

“After beating this guy, I feel like I can fight with anyone in my division.

“I feel like I’m the next contender for the title.”