LAS VEGAS – Stepping in on short notice against a UFC veteran is no problem for Brendan Allen, although the whirlwind of everything coming together so quickly has him befuddled.

Allen (17-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) will step into the cage at the UFC Apex on Saturday to face Sam Alvey, who has just as many UFC appearances as Allen has total professional bouts. Regardless of who he will be facing at UFC Fight Night 200, Allen is still trying to get his bearings after signing up for the short-notice fight after eating lunch on Tuesday.

“Here I am in Vegas, like 30 minutes ago,” Allen told MMA Junkie and other reporters at media day. “I don’t even know what time it is. I don’t know what’s going on, to be honest. All I can tell you is that I’m fighting Saturday and I gotta be at 206 (pounds) on Friday. That’s all I know.”

Typically a middleweight competitor, Allen will meet Alvey (33-16-1 MMA, 10-11-1 UFC) at light heavyweight, considering the late-notice nature of the contest. Despite not being in ideal fighting shape, Allen told his manager he wanted to fight, and when the short-notice opportunity presented itself to face Alvey, he couldn’t turn down the chance.

“I’m coming to get the bad taste out of my mouth from the last outing,” Allen said. “Obviously, to make money for my family, you know? New house, kids – it ain’t cheap. So, gotta do something for ’em.”

In December, Allen suffered his second loss under the UFC banner, falling to Chris Curtis in the second round. The setback snapped a two-fight win streak that followed his first loss in the UFC, which came by the hands of Saturday’s headliner, Sean Strickland. While their connection is apparent and they have a history of trash talk, Allen won’t turn his focus towards Stickland should he defeat Alvey.

“Of course, I’d like to fight him again,” Allen said. “Of course, I’m crazy in my head, probably. I feel like I’m better than him. It was just his night. Same thing with Chris. I got caught (by) both of ’em. Got caught. …No Sean Strickland call out. I know I’m a ways away from that now after this last one, but for me, it’s just about getting wins and not letting people build off of me, especially when it’s not the best me.”