Edmen Shahbazyan Record: 17-6-0

The rise

The early UFC stretch was the stuff of a blue-chip prospect. Shahbazyan stopped Charles Byrd with elbows and punches at UFC 235 in 2019, submitted Jack Marshman by rear-naked choke at UFC 239, and then delivered the signature highlight of his career: a first-round head-kick knockout of the durable Brad Tavares at UFC 244, vaulting him into the rankings before his 22nd birthday.

Adversity and the rebuild

The climb hit a wall in a main event. Shahbazyan was stopped late by Derek Brunson in 2020, then dropped a decision to Jack Hermansson and a TKO to Nassourdine Imavov, a three-fight skid that coincided with his move to Xtreme Couture. He answered with a 2022 stoppage of Dalcha Lungiambula but absorbed further setbacks against Anthony Hernandez and grappling veteran Gerald Meerschaert. The most recent form has been his most encouraging since the early run: a first-round KO of AJ Dobson, a finish of Dylan Budka, a decision over Andre Petroski, and a first-round TKO of veteran André Muniz at UFC 320, before a 2026 decision loss to Brendan Allen.

Fighting style

Shahbazyan is a finisher first and foremost, and the numbers bear it out: 13 of his 16 wins have come by knockout, with one submission, an 88% finish rate that ranks among the most lethal in the division. He is a long, fast, heavy-handed striker who hunts the stoppage from the opening bell, and his head kick on Tavares remains one of the cleaner highlight-reel knockouts of his era. The honest weakness has been his game when fights go long or to the mat; several of his losses have come via grappling pressure and late stoppages, a reminder that his cardio and grappling defense have at times lagged behind his offensive talent.

Career highlights

• Head-kick KO of Brad Tavares — a first-round finish of a durable, ranked veteran at UFC 244 that announced him as a blue-chip prospect.
• 88% finish rate — 13 of 16 wins by knockout, one of the most finish-heavy records in the middleweight division.
• Contender Series to ranked contender — earned his contract on Dana White's Contender Series and reeled off five straight UFC wins to start his run.