Brunson Unfazed By Shahbazyan Hype

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight sensation Edmen Shahbazyan is undefeated in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career, having racked up nine violent knockouts in 11 wins over the last three years.

Don’t expect Derek Brunson to be impressed.

Probably because the longtime veteran has already fought the best in the world on multiple occasions — like Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker, just to name a few — and is unlikely to see anything from Shahbazyan that he hasn’t already encountered.

“I’m not really worried about hype or nothing like that,” Brunson told reporters during Thursday’s media day (via MMA Junkie). “That stuff doesn’t bother me. My job is to go out and get the win by any means (necessary), so that’s what I’m focused on. He beat the guys that were across from him and won his first couple fights, and now here’s his test. I’m a veteran now. I’ve had a lot of fights in UFC, a lot of fights in Zuffa, and just be myself out there.”

Brunson (20-7) is looking to notch his third straight victory after capturing back-to-back wins over Elias Theodorou and Ian Heinisch. Shahbazyan, meanwhile, is a perfect 11-0 (4-0 inside the Octagon), which includes his knockout win over veteran middleweight Brad Tavares.

Beating Shahbazyan could help Brunson find redemption after getting stopped by Adesanya, another undefeated up-and-comer who used the Strikeforce import as a stepping stone for bigger and better things in the division.

We’ll find out this weekend in “Sin City.”

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