Tag: Edmen Shahbazyan

Edmen Shahbazyan proud to have battled through adversity in KO of AJ Dobson at UFC on ESPN 53

Edmen Shahbazyan reflects on his KO win of AJ Dobson at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 53.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag] is happy he got his hand raised Saturday, but he’s extra happy for the way it happened.

The middleweight knocked out AJ Dobson on the main card of UFC on ESPN 53 at the UFC Apex to bounce back from a TKO in May 2023. It was a solid showing from Shahbazyan (13-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC), but a rocky one, too, since he had been wobbled by Dobson (7-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC) prior to getting the KO finish.

Being able to come back from adversity and show resilience was important for Shahbazyan.

“I thought it was a good performance,” Shahbazyan said at the UFC on ESPN 53 post-fight press conference. “Battling through adversity is something that I kept telling myself: ‘Whatever happens, I’m going to go in there and battle through it whatever happens, and I’m going to come out with the win’ – and ultimately that’s what happened.

“I’m always kill or be killed in there. I’m glad I took this time off from my last fight to make some improvements and get better. After the fight was done, I’m like, ‘Damn, I can keep going.'”

Years ago, Shahbazyan was undefeated and regarded as one of the best prospects in the sport. However, he was stopped by veteran Derek Brunson in 2020 and went on a rough 2-4 run.

Shahbazyan wants a smarter approach to his career and thinks all those setbacks, as well as wins, have served to make him a better fighter.

“When I was younger, I was just ridding the hype, ridding the storm and just keep getting the finishes,” Shahbazyan said. “I was on that train. But right now, I’m more mature, I’ve learned from my wins and losses – they’re all experience learners like the fight I just had right now. I got caught with a right hand. I’m going to go back, see the mistake, work on it and get better. I’d say it’s experience and maturity that I developed from all those fights.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.

UFC on ESPN 53 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Main event combines for $22,000

UFC on ESPN 53 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 53 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $148,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC on ESPN 53 took place at the UFC Apex. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 53 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Karl Williams[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]AJ Dobson[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Payton Talbott[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Cameron Saaiman[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Youssef Zalal[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Fernando Padilla[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Luis Pajuelo[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Trey Ogden[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Julian Erosa[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Ricardo Ramos[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Miles Johns[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Cody Gibson[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jarno Errens[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Steven Nguyen[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Dariya Zheleznyakova[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Montserrat Rendon[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Andre Lima[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Igor Severino[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Mick Parkin[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Mohammed Usman[/autotag]: $4,500

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,530; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $53,000 while title challengers get $53,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-53 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,669,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $24,406,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.

UFC on ESPN 53 video: Hear from each winner, guest fighters backstage

Check out what the UFC on ESPN 53 winners and guest fighters had to say backstage at Saturday’s event.

LAS VEGAS – UFC on ESPN 53 took place Saturday with 13 bouts on the lineup. We’ve got you covered with backstage winner interviews from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

You can hear from all the UFC on ESPN 53 winners by checking out their post-fight news conferences below.

UFC on ESPN 53 video: Edmen Shahbazyan KOs AJ Dobson to cap huge comeback

Edmen Shahbazyan returned to form with a brutal knockout of AJ Dobson in the featured bout at UFC on ESPN 53.

[autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag] turned the tables on [autotag]AJ Dobson[/autotag] in a big way at UFC on ESPN 53, and it resulted in a knockout win.

After Dobson (7-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC) found a home for his punches in the opening minutes of the middleweight bout at the UFC Apex, Shahbazyan (13-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) turned the tide courtesy of a clean punch that put his opponent on skates. He followed up with some violent ground-and-pound to put his opponent out cold at the 4:33 mark of Round 1.

Check out the replay of the finishing sequence below (via X):

Shahbazyan started his career on an undefeated run, but had run into a 1-4 skid over his past five contests. He got back on track with a highlight-reel finish, and hopes to carry momentum moving forward.

“He hit me with a good shot, I’m not going to lie,” Shahbazyan said in his post-fight interview with Paul Felder. “It buzzed me for a second. I kept telling myself I would battle through adversity. … I tried to show my full skillset today.

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Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 53 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.

UFC on ESPN 53’s Edmen Shahbazyan unbothered by criticism of losing slump: ‘It doesn’t get to me’

After starting his career on an 11-fight winning streak, UFC on ESPN 53’s Edmen Shahbazyan has lost four of his past five bouts.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag] hasn’t met the lofty expectations some placed on him thus far in his career. But anyone who reminds him of that fact from a negative perspective won’t get his attention.

Shahbazyan (12-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) started his career on an 11-fight winning streak, but since has lost four of his past five fights. He’ll attempt to turn the tide Saturday at UFC on ESPN 53 when he meets AJ Dobson (7-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) in a middleweight bout at the UFC Apex (ESPN, ESPN+).

There was a point in time when Shahbazyan expressed his desire to break Jon Jones’ record as the youngest champion in UFC history. The narrative has rapidly changed, but Shahbazyan won’t fold under public scrutiny.

“It doesn’t get to me,” Shahbazyan told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “Everyone has their opinion. You know how MMA fans are. They’re riding with you one fight, then completely against you the next. But is it what it is. That’s what makes the sport. Saturday – let them tune in Saturday for a good performance.”

Shahbazyan, 26, still has youth on his side and for his most recent bouts has changed gyms to Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas under coach Eric Nicksick. He hopes that move will start to yield fruit, and thinks Dobson is a good performance for him to get back on the winning track.

“I think he’s an up-and-comer – good fighter,” Shahbazyan said. “But I think my skill set is a lot higher. With the way I’ve been training, with the way I’ve been working, I’m going to go out there and put on a performance.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC, PFL, Bellator fights announced in the past week (Feb. 12-18)

Check out the UFC, PFL, and Bellator fights that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC, PFL, and Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Feb. 12-18.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC, PFL, Bellator fights announced in the past week (Jan. 29-Feb. 4)

Check out the UFC, PFL, and Bellator fights that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC, PFL, and Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Jan. 29-Feb. 4.

UFC Vegas 89 adds three new fights to lineup, but loses fan-favorite

Three new UFC fights have been booked for March 23 – but a fan-favorite is lost in the shuffle.

Three fights have been added to the UFC Fight Night event March 23 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The card is currently headlined by former UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas (11-6 MMA, 9-5 UFC) as she battles perennial contender Amanda Ribas (12-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in a flyweight bout.

In the current co-main event, “TUF 31” lightweight winner Kurt Holobaugh (20-7 MMA, 1-4 UFC) takes on gritty veteran Trey Ogden (16-6 MMA, 1-2 UFC).

Check out the three newest additions that the promotion announced Tuesday, as well as the entire UFC Vegas 89 fight card below.

Edmen Shahbazyan reflects on UFC Fight Night 224 loss: ‘Going to make necessary adjustments and get better’

Edmen Shahbazyan won’t be deterred after suffering another setback at UFC Fight Night 224.

[autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag] won’t be deterred after another setback at UFC Fight Night 224.

Shahbazyan (12-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) was stopped by Anthony Hernandez (11-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in a third-round TKO loss in Saturday’s co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, which aired on ESPN+.

Shahbazyan got off to a good start, winning Round 1 on all three judges’ scorecards. But as the fight went on, Shahbazyan slowed down significantly – an issue he’s had in his recent losses. At the end of Round 2, Shahbazyan was heard telling his corner that he thinks he may have broken his ribs. The 25-year-old took to Instagram to release a statement.

“War yesterday. Didn’t go our way but I just want to say how thankful I am for my team and the love and support I receive from them. It is truly unmeasurable. Also to my family and friends! Got some stitches and bruises but I’m ok. Worked hard for this moment but came up short and it’s all part of my journey. Going to make necessary adjustments and get better. I appreciate everyone for reaching out, it truly means a lot! Love and respect🙏🏻❤️.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cshkqd_vPO4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MmJiY2I4NDBkZg==

After an undefeated start to his professional MMA career, including a 4-0 record in the UFC, Shahbazyan now has lost four of his past five. His lone win in that stretch came in a second-round Performance of the Night TKO of Dalcha Lungiambula at UFC 282.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 224.

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UFC Fight Night 224 post-event facts: Mackenzie Dern climbs strawweight bonus list

Check out all the facts and figures from UFC Fight Night 224, which saw Mackenzie Dern rack up another $50,000 bonus in the main event.

The UFC closed out its May schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 224, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

In the main event, [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) defeated [autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag] (15-13 MMA, 10-13 UFC) by unanimous decision in the Fight of the Night, with the grappling specialist landing a career-best 126 significant strikes over the course of five rounds.

For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts about UFC Fight Night 224.