LAS VEGAS – Edmen Shahbazyan 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.”
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’