Edmen Shahbazyan is embracing underdog status as he prepares to face top-ranked middleweight contender Brendan Allen at UFC Fight Night 278 at META APEX, streaming on Paramount+.
Shahbazyan, who trains at Xtreme Couture alongside current middleweight champion Sean Strickland, believes a win over Allen would push him into the upper echelon of the division. Despite previous setbacks, he says he’s arriving at this opportunity as a different athlete.
"I wouldn't take back anything that happened in the past," Shahbazyan said. "It's God's timing. Here we are. I'm a lot better fighter today. More mature, more established and Saturday night is going to be a good night. I promise."
Allen brings a reputation as a tough, durable opponent, but Shahbazyan insists he is ready for the challenge. "He's a good opponent. Tough fighter, durable fighter – but I'm ready for this moment. I'm ready to go Saturday night."
With Strickland holding the middleweight title, Shahbazyan sees opportunity at the top of the division. "I think I can fit in well to it given how the last (title) fight went," he said. "It's up for grabs in my opinion, and Sean is a good friend of mine. We train together. We're main training partners. We always push each other hard."
