Career Averages - Edmen Shahbazyan
Career Averages - Dylan Budka
Edmen Shahbazyan
Dylan Budka
Edmen Shahbazyan - Fight History
The host predicts Brendan Allen to win by submission in round two, likely with a rear naked choke. He notes that Shahbazyan is dangerous in round one with knockout power, but after that, Allen's grappling advantage takes over. He mentions that Allen has good takedowns and a strong back take, and that Shahbazyan's takedown defense fades as the fight goes on.
AJ picks Allen by submission, emphasizing Allen's elite grappling and wrestling advantage over Shahbazyan. He acknowledges Shahbazyan's striking skills but believes Allen will get the fight to the ground and submit him. AJ notes Allen's recent wins over top competition and expects a submission victory.
AJ believes Brendan Allen will dominate with his superior grappling, taking the fight to the ground and submitting Edmen Shahbazyan. He notes Allen's striking is decent enough to close distance, and Shahbazyan's ground game remains a question mark. AJ sees this as a clear grappling mismatch.
Angelo picks Brendan Allen, citing his clear advantage in wrestling and takedowns. He notes that Shahbazyan's takedown defense is a huge hole, and as long as Allen sticks to the game plan of getting takedowns and keeping him on the ground, he wins. He is slightly concerned about Allen's recent training camp comments but assumes he is ready.
Big Brady picks Brendan Allen to win by second round submission. He is not impressed with Shahbazyan's recent wins and notes that Shahbazyan quits when grappled. He thinks Allen should take him down and submit him, but worries about Allen's fight IQ and tendency to strike. He believes Allen is the better fighter and should win.
Brendan Allen fights like an idiot and often sells fights, as seen against Chris Curtis and Anthony Hernandez. Edmen Shahbazyan has knockout power and will likely chin Allen in round two. Shahbazyan is a huge underdog but has been training takedown defense at Extreme Couture.
Cody confidently picks Brendan Allen, arguing that Allen's wrestling and grappling will overwhelm Shahbazyan as the fight progresses. He notes Shahbazyan is dangerous in the first round but fades, and Allen has proven cardio and durability against top competition. He sees Allen as a -600 fighter at -200.
Brendan Allen is picked because he has better versatility and can grapple with Edmen Shahbazyan. The host is not sold on Shahbazyan's resurgence, noting his wins over Andre Muniz and Andre Petroski are not impressive. Allen's ground and pound and submission skills are highlighted, though he makes mistakes. The host expects Allen to win by decision, using cage control and clinch work.
Allen is a top-five middleweight with a clear grappling advantage. Shahbazyan has been submitted by lesser grapplers and hasn't faced anyone near Allen's level. Allen should get a first-round submission.
Lucrative James acknowledges Brendan Allen is the better all-round fighter and would pick him if forced, but sees value in Edmen Shahbazyan as a plus-money underdog. He notes Shahbazyan's knockout power and Allen's questionable durability and fight IQ, especially after Allen's brawl with Marvin Vettori. He believes Shahbazyan's best path is a round 1 or 2 KO, and that the betting value lies on the underdog.
Allen has superior durability and cardio; he should weather Shahbazyan's early striking and then take over in later rounds with grappling and body kicks. Shahbazyan tends to fade, and Allen will likely get a rear-naked choke in round 2.
Paul picks Brendan Allen but is hesitant due to Shahbazyan's first-round danger. He agrees Allen will take over in rounds 2 and 3, but is not getting heavily invested pre-fight. He suggests live betting Allen after the first round for better value.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 1 | 25 of 50 | 50% | 26 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:39 |
| André Muniz | 0 | 15 of 38 | 39% | 17 of 40 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmen Shahbazyan | 1 | 25 of 50 | 50% | 26 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:39 |
| André Muniz | 0 | 15 of 38 | 39% | 17 of 40 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 25 of 50 | 50% | 20 of 45 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 27 | 1 of 2 | 12 of 21 |
| André Muniz | 15 of 38 | 39% | 6 of 20 | 2 of 10 | 7 of 8 | 15 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmen Shahbazyan | 25 of 50 | 50% | 20 of 45 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 27 | 1 of 2 | 12 of 21 |
| André Muniz | 15 of 38 | 39% | 6 of 20 | 2 of 10 | 7 of 8 | 15 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Shahbazyan (-290), Muniz (+235)
Round 1
It’s submission vs. striking in this next phrase of the prelims, with both athletes sporting finish rates north of 75% in this middleweight affair. Still just 27 years of age with a few camps behind him at Xtreme Couture, Shahbazyan (15-5, 8-5 UFC) is ready to turn the corner and become “The Golden Boy.” To get there, he will have to surpass grappling ace Muniz (24-7, 6-3 UFC), who no one will forget when he snapped the arm of “Jacare” Souza with a stellar armbar. Referee Mark Smith will be here for the match wherever it takes place, and the 185ers bump gloves to introduce themselves.
Shahbazyan moves to the center of the Octagon and blocks a quick head kick that leads things off, and he hops away from a subsequent sweeping calf kick. Muniz goes high with another kick, and Shahbazyan pitches a calf kick back his way. They jab at one another, and Muniz misses on a short combination of punches. Shahbazyan scores a body kick and takes a low kick on the way out, with the two seemingly trading blows one after the other. Muniz spins with a wheel kick, and when he plants his feet, he shoots for a takedown. Shahbazyan forces him to stand up and knees him in the torso, bullying the grappler against the fence and staying tight to him. Muniz falls to the ground to pursue a leglock, and Shahbazyan steps out of it and makes Muniz stand. Muniz gets back up and is ready to throw hands, and his head kick after bangs into the guard. Shahbazyan responds with a single solid left hook, and he splits the gloves with a right.
Muniz stays committed to body kicks, and he uses one to close the distance only for the younger fighter to push him towards the fencing. Muniz separates without much effort, and he defends a high kick he knows is coming. The Brazilian plants his heel on Shahbazyan’s side from a back kick, and his swinging hooks miss the mark by a matter of feet. Muniz catches a kick and tries to trip Shahbazyan up, but he abandons that and just slugs his way closer. Muniz goes after the calf and swings it out for a moment with Shahbazyan, who takes a right hand and is shaken up for a moment. Shahbazyan plants his feet and takes a body kick, so he backpedals as Muniz puts it on him. Muniz manages to drag Shahbazyan to the floor, and although he cannot keep him there, he does land a kick. Muniz opens up with big punches, and Shahbazyan clips him with a left hook that puts the Brazilian on ice skates.
The sheer momentum of Shahbazyan and his swinging left hands bowl Muniz to the floor, and he starts battering the downed man with punches and elbows. Muniz turns to his side to defend the beating, but Smith is watching closely and not seeing much intelligent defense. As Muniz appears to lose consciousness from the drubbing, Smith steps in to call a halt to the match before the buzzer
. It takes some time for Muniz to come to, but he manages to sit and stand up, and his team and medical professionals seat him on a stool to further recover. Meanwhile, that is three wins in a row for Shahbazyan, who may be knocking on the door of the top 15 again.
The Official Result
Edmen Shahbazyan def. Andre Muniz R1 4:58 via KO (Punches and Elbows)
Angelo sees this as a striker vs grappler matchup. He believes Edmen's striking advantage is wider than André's grappling advantage, and that Edmen can win by keeping the fight on the feet. He notes André's chin is starting to fail and that Edmen has good takedown defense when not tired. He also thinks the fight will not go the distance.
Big Brady believes André Muniz has a weak chin, citing his recent knockout losses and a delayed reaction to a shot. He notes that Muniz has been knocked out six times and all his losses are inside the distance. He thinks Shahbazyan has power and will knock out Muniz, likely in the first round. He predicts a first-round knockout for Shahbazyan.
Connor picks Muniz to keep it interesting, seeing a path where Muniz sucks Shahbazyan into a grappling hell early on, making Shahbazyan fight well but have a miserable time, leading to his typical panic and collapse. He notes that Muniz's aggressive grappling could overwhelm Shahbazyan, especially if Muniz commits to wrestling from the start.
The host is skeptical of Shahbazyan as a chalky favorite due to gas tank issues, but still expects him to walk Munz onto a big shot and win by knockout.
The MMA Guru picks Edmen Shahbazyan, believing his youth, power, and takedown defense will be key. He notes André Muniz's vulnerability to strikes and poor decision-making. He predicts a first-round TKO.
Zane picks Shahbazyan because he believes Muniz is a pure grappler who is not good at staying in control of a fight, unlike the fighters who have previously broken Shahbazyan (e.g., Derek Brunson, Jack Hermansson). He notes that Muniz is a risky, chancy grappler who can get a quick submission but is a mess standing, and Shahbazyan is a rangy, sharp shooter with good striking. However, he acknowledges the potential for Shahbazyan to meltdown.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 1 | 53 of 136 | 38% | 58 of 142 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Andre Petroski | 0 | 34 of 84 | 40% | 34 of 84 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:23 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmen Shahbazyan | 0 | 15 of 41 | 36% | 15 of 41 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Andre Petroski | 0 | 13 of 27 | 48% | 13 of 27 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:04 | |
| 2 | Edmen Shahbazyan | 0 | 18 of 50 | 36% | 18 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Andre Petroski | 0 | 12 of 34 | 35% | 12 of 34 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 | |
| 3 | Edmen Shahbazyan | 1 | 20 of 45 | 44% | 25 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Andre Petroski | 0 | 9 of 23 | 39% | 9 of 23 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 53 of 136 | 38% | 37 of 103 | 11 of 23 | 5 of 10 | 50 of 129 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 7 |
| Andre Petroski | 34 of 84 | 40% | 15 of 52 | 13 of 17 | 6 of 15 | 33 of 82 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmen Shahbazyan | 15 of 41 | 36% | 12 of 30 | 2 of 8 | 1 of 3 | 15 of 41 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Andre Petroski | 13 of 27 | 48% | 5 of 13 | 4 of 6 | 4 of 8 | 12 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Edmen Shahbazyan | 18 of 50 | 36% | 10 of 37 | 7 of 9 | 1 of 4 | 18 of 50 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Andre Petroski | 12 of 34 | 35% | 7 of 24 | 5 of 7 | 0 of 3 | 12 of 34 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Edmen Shahbazyan | 20 of 45 | 44% | 15 of 36 | 2 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 17 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 7 |
| Andre Petroski | 9 of 23 | 39% | 3 of 15 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 4 | 9 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Shahbazyan (-185), Petroski (+154)
Round 1
As aggressive as ever, middleweight wunderkind Shahbazyan (14-5, 7-5 UFC) knows it only takes one for him to put an opponent away. He draws bearded grappler Petroski (13-3, 8-2 UFC), who has had his chin checked in the past but can also grind his way to victory if need be. This two-outcome match draws officiating from referee Kevin MacDonald, who bears witness to the fitness of the modern warrior. Before BOOM, another hit is landed, they bump fists. You’re gonna feel it. This is the ultimate. Both men start fast, trading hands in the center of the cage. Petroski lets go with a low kick and a level change, the latter likely to make Shahbazyan think about the possibility. When Shahbazyan advances, Petroski clips him with a short right hand that makes Shahbazyan check his nose. The two get stuck in neutral for a time when presenting in boxing range, and Shahbazyan breaks up the lull in action with a body kick. As Petroski bounces in, Shahbazyan measures him with a sharp right hand. Shahbazyan pecks out with a jab, but Petroski lands heavy on the calf with a kick. The boos begin to grow louder as the two do not engage with much, and Petroski tries to engage his grappling and is turned away for his efforts. Shahbazyan gets behind his jab, pecking it out to fluster Petroski. A jab and a left hook stings the Renzo Gracie Philly product, and Petroski tries and fails to take the fight down again. A quick left from Shahbazyan hurts Petroski, who bounces off the fence to gather himself. Shahbazyan wraps a right hand around the guard, and he deposits his shin on the midsection as the sound of it echoes through the building. Shahbazyan chases around his opponent with a few punches until the tepid round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Shahbazyan
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Shahbazyan
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Shahbazyan
Round 2
As the second round begins, Petroski still cannot find his way in to attack. This allows Shahbazyan to peck and poke at him with jabs, front kicks and anything else to maintain his distance. Shahbazyan pushes off and a finger slides into his eye socket, and MacDonald calls time and tells Petroski to take all the time he needs. With fighters too often hurrying back before they are fully recovered, MacDonald’s request is a solid one. Nevertheless, Petroski waves things back in after 45 seconds, in which he immediately reintroduces himself with a blistering right hand over the top. Shahbazyan does not let him land a second time, instead disrupting his attacks with his flustering jab. Petroski manages to get his hands on the younger fighter, but cannot ground him and settles for a body kick on the way out. Petroski strings together three punches, the third that really gets Shahbazyan’s attention. Shahbazyan loads up with an overhand right, and Petroski’s response of a one-two is effective. Shahbazyan eventually boots his foe in the belly after some time of inaction, and he doubles up on it as Petroski frowns. Shahbazyan skims the top of the head with his foot, and he digs a right to the midsection while Petroski backpedals. They meet in the middle and trade power punches, with Shahbazyan goes to the body and shaking up Petroski to the head. Petroski circles to either direction to try to get his wits about him, remaining safe until the round ends. Once again, the crowd expresses itself about the lackluster match.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Shahbazyan
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Shahbazyan
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Shahbazyan
Round 3
The middleweights reach Round 3 and tap hands together, and both punch one another square in the face. As they come together, they clack heads, and Shahbazyan shrugs and signals to MacDonald, who is already calling time. They resume after a few seconds, where Petroski thumps the front leg with a kick and has his beard tested with a right hand. Petroski dives after a single, putting “The Golden Boy” on his seat. Shahbazyan climbs right back to his feet and wipes his feet on the mat, before tossing his cleaned ball of his foot towards his adversary. Shahbazyan rattles off two punches down the middle, swaying and dodging the inevitable counter. Petroski moves from side to side as the audience turns on them once again, even as Shahbazyan slaps the raised guard with a head kick. Petroski pounds the chest of his opponent with his shin, and he gets driven back by a right hand. Shahbazyan unloads with a mighty body kick, slamming it on Petroski’s left arm, and Petroski clutches it. Shahbazyan aims another one to the same spot, his arm possibly damaged, and he goes down from the kick. After dropping down a few punches, Shahbazyan elects to let Petroski back up. “The Golden Boy” goes high with a kick to the same potentially hurt limb, and he moves away from a head kick aimed at him. Petroski chains a single into a step-in knee, and Shahbazyan pushes him back with a right hand. Shahbazyan flicks out his jab to solid effect, skirting away from a low kick and aiming two kicks back. Shahbazyan works over the front leg with another kick, and he connects with a one-two. Petroski marches his man down despite a head kick aimed at him, swinging once and missing wide. Once more, the fighters go the distance tonight, and fans do not love what they witnessed for the last 15 minutes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Shahbazyan (30-27 Shahbazyan)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Shahbazyan (30-27 Shahbazyan)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Shahbazyan (30-27 Shahbazyan)
The Official Result
Edmen Shahbazyan def. Andre Petroski via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Angelo leans Edmen because he is the better athlete and hits hard, and Andre's chin is suspect. He notes that even if Andre gets takedowns, Edmen can survive and have an edge on the feet. However, he feels the odds are a trap and expects a close fight.
Big Brady picks Edmen Shahbazyan by first-round knockout. He notes that Shahbazyan has a 7.5-minute window to finish before his cardio fades, and that Petroski has been knocked out in all his losses. He believes Shahbazyan will land a knockout early, but suggests a live bet on Petroski if the fight goes past the first round.
Connor picks Shahbazyan but is very hesitant, calling the fight a coin flip. He notes that Shahbazyan's problems are fundamental and unlikely to go away, but that Petroski's tendency to gas and his clumsy striking make him vulnerable to an early finish. Connor points out that Shahbazyan's best chance is to knock Petroski out in the first round, as Petroski has been finished early before. If Petroski survives, his durability and grinding style could break Shahbazyan.
Petroski's grappling and power punching will thwart Shahbazyan's striking. He will pin him against the cage, drag him to the ground, and possibly find a submission in the second or third round, but ultimately win on the scorecards.
The Guru initially wavers but ultimately picks Andre Petroski by submission in the third round. He acknowledges Shahbazyan is the better martial artist with superior standup, but fears Shahbazyan will 'fumble' again. He expects Petroski to implement his wrestling and get a late arm-triangle choke, calling it a coin flip.
Zane picks Shahbazyan but is hesitant, acknowledging that Shahbazyan's mental fragility is a major concern. He thinks Petroski is prone to getting overloaded early and that Shahbazyan's power and sharpness in round one could finish him. However, Zane notes that if Petroski survives the first round, he likely wins by grinding Shahbazyan down with wrestling and pressure, as Shahbazyan tends to collapse when his initial blitz fails.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 1 | 7 of 15 | 46% | 7 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Dylan Budka | 0 | 1 of 16 | 6% | 1 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmen Shahbazyan | 1 | 7 of 15 | 46% | 7 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Dylan Budka | 0 | 1 of 16 | 6% | 1 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 7 of 15 | 46% | 5 of 13 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 |
| Dylan Budka | 1 of 16 | 6% | 1 of 12 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmen Shahbazyan | 7 of 15 | 46% | 5 of 13 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 |
| Dylan Budka | 1 of 16 | 6% | 1 of 12 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Shahbazyan (-355), Budka (+280)
Round 1
In the “featured fight of the night” slot, a .500 fighter with 10 UFC outings goes up against one that has fought and lost twice. Momentum may not be the word of the day here, but the terms ‘pink slip’ or ‘destruction’ could be. Hoping to keep their jobs, Shahbazyan (13-5, 5-5 UFC) aims to follow the successes that David Gladfelter and Cesar Almeida had against Budka (7-4, 0-2 UFC). Keep tabs on the middleweights is referee Chris Tognoni, who stands by as the fighters engage in a clap of hands. Shahbazyan walks forward, through a right hand that catches him fairly cleanly, so he can flick out a pair of jabs. Budka lets fly a body kick, and he parries Shahbazyan coming forward. Budka drives forward behind a pair of jabs, and Shahbazyan sees this coming as a wry grin wraps across his face from ear to ear.
“The Golden Boy” fades back and plants a right hand square on the chin, and Budka’s balance immediately betrays him as he stumbles back and hits the deck. Shahbazyan rushes at “The Mindless Hulk,” depriving him of any further brain cells with a few hammerfists before Tognoni has seen more than enough.
Shahbazyan races off to celebrate with his corner, shocked that their timely advice of a pull-back right hand played out perfectly. That is one more highlight on the reel of the 27-year-old, who may not be totally washed despite the complaints of critics and colleagues.
The Official Result
Edmen Shahbazyan def. Dylan Budka R1 1:35 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Dylan Budka despite acknowledging that many people think Budka is not good. He argues that Budka has very good offensive wrestling and Edmen Shahbazyan has poor takedown defense (65%) and is useless on the ground. He believes Budka can win with wrestling alone, and that the odds are upside down.
Big Brady picks Shahbazyan by first-round submission, arguing Budka is not on the level of Shahbazyan's previous opponents. Shahbazyan has a huge striking advantage and is even the better grappler. He expects Shahbazyan to hurt Budka, who will panic wrestle, and then snatch a submission. If Shahbazyan loses, he should retire.
Connor picks Edmen Shahbazyan, agreeing with Zane that Budka is not ready for this level. He emphasizes Budka's lack of range game and his need for constant coaching, which makes him operate three steps behind. Connor notes that Shahbazyan, despite his own issues, has the depth of skill to bulldoze opponents like Budka. He also suggests that Shahbazyan might have benefited from being cut from the UFC earlier, like Zalal, to fix his problems.
Lucrative James picks Edmen Shahbazyan to win by KO, viewing this as a clear step down in competition for Shahbazyan. He notes that Shahbazyan's losses have come against high-level opponents like Gerald Meerschaert, Anthony Hernandez, and Nassourdine Imavov, while Dylan Budka has not shown UFC-level skills. He believes Shahbazyan's improved grappling and pace will be enough, and that Budka lacks the tools to exploit Shahbazyan's known cardio issues. He expects a finish inside the distance.
Shahbazyan has a big technical gap over Budka and can put him away early, likely within the first round. If it goes longer, his cardio becomes an issue. The -360 odds are iffy but Shahbazyan wins inside the distance.
The MMA Guru picks Edmen Shahbazyan to win by early TKO in round one or two. He acknowledges Shahbazyan's past struggles with wrestling and cardio but believes Dylan Budka won't be able to take him down until it's too late. He trusts Shahbazyan's development at Xtreme Couture.
Zane picks Edmen Shahbazyan confidently, despite acknowledging Shahbazyan's well-documented flaws. He notes that Shahbazyan still crushes low-level middleweights and that Dylan Budka is a particularly limited fighter with no range game, no jab, no kicks, and a history of needing excessive in-cage coaching. Zane compares Budka to a 'no-legged man' in an ass-kicking contest, making Shahbazyan the clear pick. He also mentions that Shahbazyan's issues (fading after strong starts) are unlikely to be exploited by Budka.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 48 of 113 | 42% | 48 of 113 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:21 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 0 | 21 of 44 | 47% | 31 of 54 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 1 | 0 | 0:21 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 22 of 50 | 44% | 22 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 0 | 14 of 33 | 42% | 16 of 35 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 26 of 63 | 41% | 26 of 63 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:18 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 0 | 7 of 11 | 63% | 15 of 19 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 1 | 0 | 0:21 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald Meerschaert | 48 of 113 | 42% | 31 of 94 | 16 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 26 of 60 | 5 of 9 | 17 of 44 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 21 of 44 | 47% | 11 of 33 | 6 of 7 | 4 of 4 | 20 of 42 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerald Meerschaert | 22 of 50 | 44% | 12 of 38 | 9 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 21 of 46 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 14 of 33 | 42% | 5 of 24 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 4 | 14 of 33 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Gerald Meerschaert | 26 of 63 | 41% | 19 of 56 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 14 | 4 of 5 | 17 of 44 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 7 of 11 | 63% | 6 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Shahbazyan (-310), Meerschaert (+250)
Round 1
If Reese vs. Medina was the appetizer for middleweight finishers—although it did not go down the way matchmakers likely intended—this pairing between aggressive youngster Shahbazyan (13-4, 6-4 UFC) and crafty opportunist Meerschaert (36-17, 11-9 UFC) is the main course. Together, they sport three wins by decision across their combined 49 victories. Referee Mark Smith needs to be on his A-game for this one, although he is well-prepared for the bout that commences with a touch of gloves. Meerschaert introduces himself with a well-placed body kick, and Shahbazyan frowns and responds with a right straight to the ribs. Meerschaert scores another thudding body kick, and Shahbazyan measures his left hand and walks “GM3” down. A third body kick from Meerschaert connects cleanly, and he scores a one-two and is countered. Shahbazyan absorbs an inside leg kick and a jab, and he fights off a takedown but gets uppercutted twice in the exchange. Meerschaert lands a right hand and eats a right to the body and a left to the head. Shahbazyan rushes in, and he slashes out with an elbow to break. “GM3” sneaks in a left hand, and Shahbazyan boots him in the ribcage. Meerschaert does the same with his kick, and Shahbazyan targets his midsection in response. Doubling up on a jab, Shahbazyan punches his way in and follows a right hand with a head kick. Meerschaert blocks the second kick and loops a left hand in, and they get up close and personal to trade fierce punches. “GM3” further attacks the body, and a left hand that follows reddens up the nose of “The Golden Boy.” Shahbazyan splits the guard with a right cross, and he has a leg kick checked. Meerschaert kicks the inner thigh, and it slides up and slaps into the cup. Shahbazyan grimaces in pain, and Smith calls time. Shahbazyan clutches his groin and paces around to get his wind back, and he takes 75 seconds before resuming. Smith tells Meerschaert to “stay away from that area,” and he nods. On the restart, Meerschaert loops a right around the jab, and he parries a high body kick. Shahbazyan sticks him with a left and comes up short on a big left hand, and they clash with kicks at the same time. Shahbazyan walks through a punch to get Meerschaert’s attention with a right hook, and a body kick from “The Golden Boy” ends the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Shahbazyan
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Shahbazyan
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Shahbazyan
Round 2
The middleweight clap hands to start the round, and Meerschaert is on the attack immediately. Jabbing his way into a takedown effort, he fails on it and pulls back to try a second time. Meerschaert kicks the body of his foe, and he trips to his back and climbs back up. Shahbazyan defends from another takedown, and he clips “GM3” with a short right hook to the body and a pounding knee that puts Meerschaert down. Shahbazyan opens up with ground-and-pound, spamming punches and hammerfists as Smith tells him to fight back. Meerschaert stays busy enough to survive, slowing things down by tying up Shahbazyan’s hand. Shahbazyan tries his hardest to finish the fight, but Meerschaert is savvy enough to block most of them. When Shahbazyan takes mount, “GM3” times an explosion to buck Shahbazyan off of him. Meerschaert threatens with a guillotine off his back, and he reassumes the guard and looks to tie Shahbazyan up with a kimura. Shahbazyan stands up and tells Meerschaert to stand back up. Meerschaert immediately shoots for a takedown and is met with a knee, and he looks for a standing guillotine when Shahbazyan bullies him to the fence. Meerschaert does not have the sub, so he lets it go and blasts Shahbazyan with three ferocious punches. Shahbazyan gives him back two knees to the body and a right hand to back him away. Shahbazyan times a jump knee as Meerschaert tackles him to the mat, and with one minute to go, Meerschaert assumes to position.
In the blink of an eye, Meerschaert latches onto the arm-triangle choke, and he lowers himself down when sensing the resistance of “The Golden Boy” is not what it was before. “GM3” completes the submission without even stepping over to the side, instead hanging on in half guard, and that is all he needs. Shahbazyan surrenders to a sub for the first time in his career
, and Meerschaert has pulled off the upset and the comeback. In doing so, Meerschaert becomes the UFC’s all-time finish leader at middleweight, breaking his tie with Anderson Silva for sole possession of the record.
The Official Result
Gerald Meerschaert def. Edmen Shahbazyan R2 4:12 via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
Angelo picks Gerald Meerschaert as an underdog, acknowledging his chinny reputation but noting his improved takedowns in his last fight. He thinks Meerschaert's grappling is the best it's looked and that if he can take Shahbazyan down, he'll be in trouble. He mentions that Shahbazyan is a 3-to-1 favorite which seems crazy, and that Apex cards are ripe for upsets. He also suggests a plus 3.5 bet on Meerschaert.
Cody picks Meerschaert because he thinks Shahbazyan is a front-runner who fades if he doesn't finish early. He notes Meerschaert has good BJJ, cardio, and a comeback ability. He believes if Shahbazyan doesn't knock him out in the first round, Meerschaert will take over and submit him. He also mentions that Shahbazyan has been stopped by wrestlers and grapplers before.
Daniel Vreeland picks Gerald Meerschaert for the upset, noting Shahbazyan is a front-runner who fades after the first round. He believes if Shahbazyan doesn't get a first-round KO, Meerschaert will take over with submissions or ground-and-pound. He acknowledges the risk of Shahbazyan winning early.
JP picks Shahbazyan by KO, noting his losses were to elite competition and he has looked great lately. He thinks Meerschaert is old, slow, and his standup is not good. Brevin agrees, adding that Meerschaert is reckless and has been taking bad punishment recently, including a one-punch KO loss to Chimaev. Shahbazyan is bigger, younger, and has good wrestling to stuff takedowns.
Paul leans towards Shahbazyan by KO but doesn't like the price. He thinks Shahbazyan has the power to finish Meerschaert early, but notes that Meerschaert is durable and could survive. He prefers to bet live or take a prop on Shahbazyan by KO rather than the moneyline. He also mentions that Meerschaert's chin is suspect.
The MMA Guru picks Edmen Shahbazyan by first-round KO. He believes Shahbazyan is much more talented on the feet and that Meerschaert is getting old. He cites Shahbazyan's wins over Barbarena, AJ Dobson, and Dingi Andula, and notes Meerschaert's recent win over Barbarena was unimpressive. He predicts a first-round finish.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 1 | 27 of 43 | 62% | 31 of 51 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:49 |
| A.J. Dobson | 0 | 15 of 46 | 32% | 20 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:15 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmen Shahbazyan | 1 | 27 of 43 | 62% | 31 of 51 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:49 |
| A.J. Dobson | 0 | 15 of 46 | 32% | 20 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:15 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 27 of 43 | 62% | 19 of 34 | 2 of 3 | 6 of 6 | 16 of 24 | 1 of 3 | 10 of 16 |
| A.J. Dobson | 15 of 46 | 32% | 7 of 36 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 8 | 12 of 43 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmen Shahbazyan | 27 of 43 | 62% | 19 of 34 | 2 of 3 | 6 of 6 | 16 of 24 | 1 of 3 | 10 of 16 |
| A.J. Dobson | 15 of 46 | 32% | 7 of 36 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 8 | 12 of 43 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Shahbazyan (-198), Dobson (+164)
Round 1
In the “featured fight of the night” slot, two relatively young middleweights are both at a crossroads. After starting out his UFC tenure red hot and surging into the rankings, Shahbazyan (12-4, 5-4 UFC) has hit a wall and won just once in five outings. Dobson (7-2, 1 NC; 1-2 UFC) has not struggled quite as much, and a win could right his ship in the Octagon to .500. Both men will try to establish themselves while referee Mark Smith watches on, and they lead off with hands being clapped together. Shahbazyan lands first with a low kick, and Dobson springs into action with a three-punch combo. Shahbazyan tries another lazy kick, and Dobson once more meets him with three in a row. Dobson is a coiled spring ready to strike, and Shahbazyan is more cautious and landing single strikes. Dobson shrugs off a calf kick and puts a one-two on the chin, and he takes two left hands on the temple to back him off for a moment. Dobson chips at the lead leg twice until they crash together throwing hands, and he tags “The Golden Boy” with a right hand. Shahbazyan is stunned and shoots for a takedown, and Dobson stands him up with a guillotine choke try. Dobson looks to make him pay with short shots, and Shahbazyan gloms onto him and hits a trip takedown. Dobson scrambles madly to get out of bad position, and he manages to flip him over and get into the guard of his foe. Dobson connects with left hands, and Shahbazyan answers with elbows off his back. Dobson clubs his opponent with right hands until Shahbazyan wraps him up and looks for an armbar. Dobson shrugs it off and absorbs more elbows to the side of the head as Shahbazyan squirms his way to the fence. Shahbazyan stands back up with the wall behind him, and he lands a knee on the inside and turns Dobson around in the clinch. Shahbazyan tries to wrangle Dobson down to the mat, and Dobson nearly falls on top of him until Shahbazyan muscles his way back up. Dobson pushes off out of the clinch and catches Shahbazyan with a left hand, and he beats Shahbazyan to the punch with a pair of strikes. Dobson lunges out with a left, and he chains a few punches together and gets caught with a vicious left hand.
Dobson crumbles to the mat, and Shahbazyan jackhammers him with punches and ferocious elbows. Dobson teeters on the edge of consciousness as Shahbazyan delivers punishment, and the strikes put him out as his head bounces off the mat.
Shahbazyan continues punching until Smith recognizes that Dobson is unconscious and he calls a halt to the fight. What a dramatic round for Shahbazyan, who outlasts a rough few minutes to knock Dobson unconscious. This marks the first time that Dobson has been finished as a professional, while clocking in as Shahbazyan’s first stoppage in the first round since 2019.
The Official Result
Edmen Shahbazyan def. A.J. Dobson R1 4:33 via KO (Elbows and Punches)
Angelo picks A.J. Dobson as an underdog, surprised by the plus 160 odds. He believes Dobson has plenty of power, wrestling, and chin to win. He plans to wait for prop bets, specifically a plus 3.5 round bet, to protect against a decision loss where Dobson wins at least one round.
Big Brady picks Edmen Shahbazyan, believing he is the better striker and more active. He notes Shahbazyan's takedown defense is not terrible and that Dobson is low volume. He acknowledges Shahbazyan's cardio issues but expects him to win the first two rounds and hold on for a 29-28 decision.
Cody picks Shahbazyan, believing he will outclass Dobson on the feet and land a knockout. He notes Shahbazyan's power and finishing ability, but also acknowledges his cardio issues. Cody bets the under 2.5 rounds, expecting a finish.
Daniel Vreeland leans toward Edmen Shahbazyan because he believes A.J. Dobson won't push the pace enough to expose Shahbazyan's cardio issues. He acknowledges Shahbazyan has broken in extended fights before but thinks Dobson's low output favors Shahbazyan. He is not confident enough to bet the favorite.
Shahbazyan has a striking and speed advantage, and his submission game is solid. However, his cardio is a major concern; he tends to slow down. Dobson is a low-output striker with mediocre wrestling, but he has a better gas tank. Shahbazyan should land easily and could finish early, possibly by submission. A small sprinkle on Dobson in round three is mentioned, but the pick is Shahbazyan inside the distance.
Paul leans toward the over 2.5 rounds, citing Shahbazyan's cardio issues and Dobson's durability. He thinks Dobson will try to wrestle and slow the fight down, which could lead to a decision. Paul picks Shahbazyan but expects a tough fight, possibly going to decision.
The MMA Guru picks Edmen Shahbazyan over A.J. Dobson, citing Shahbazyan's speed and accuracy. He thinks Shahbazyan will land a right hand and finish with uppercuts and knees against the cage. He predicts a first-round TKO, noting Dobson's lack of speed and inability to get takedowns.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Hernandez | 0 | 30 of 51 | 58% | 33 of 55 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 0:41 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 0 | 63 of 88 | 71% | 77 of 105 | 6 of 15 | 40% | 4 | 0 | 7:11 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anthony Hernandez | 0 | 25 of 42 | 59% | 27 of 45 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 0:23 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 0 | 15 of 27 | 55% | 17 of 30 | 2 of 8 | 25% | 2 | 0 | 2:29 | |
| 2 | Anthony Hernandez | 0 | 4 of 8 | 50% | 5 of 9 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 0 | 28 of 39 | 71% | 39 of 50 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 2 | 0 | 3:54 | |
| 3 | Anthony Hernandez | 0 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 0 | 20 of 22 | 90% | 21 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:48 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Hernandez | 30 of 51 | 58% | 21 of 42 | 8 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 17 of 35 | 11 of 14 | 2 of 2 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 63 of 88 | 71% | 55 of 79 | 4 of 4 | 4 of 5 | 15 of 33 | 8 of 8 | 40 of 47 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anthony Hernandez | 25 of 42 | 59% | 17 of 34 | 7 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 13 of 27 | 10 of 13 | 2 of 2 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 15 of 27 | 55% | 13 of 24 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 7 of 19 | 6 of 6 | 2 of 2 | |
| 2 | Anthony Hernandez | 4 of 8 | 50% | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 28 of 39 | 71% | 22 of 33 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 7 of 13 | 2 of 2 | 19 of 24 | |
| 3 | Anthony Hernandez | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 20 of 22 | 90% | 20 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 19 of 21 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Hernandez (-240), Shahbazyan (+200)
Round 1
It’s an all-California middleweight rumble in the co-main attraction, as the resurgent Shahbazyan (12-3, 5-3 UFC) looks to halt the impressive but brief win streak of “Fluffy” Hernandez (10-2, 1 NC; 4-2 UFC). Finish rates of 92% for the former and 80% for the latter mean that while the judges might not be needed for the bout’s duration, referee Herb Dean very well may be required. Before the action begins, the two 185ers try to touch gloves and miss, so they abandon it. Shahbazyan lands the first blow with a right hand, and Hernandez responds with a takedown entry. Shahbazyan loads up with a right hand to hurt “Fluffy” and bends him over, and Hernandez backs away to the wall as Shahbazyan unloads with a series of punches. Hernandez backs away, shells up, sticks his tongue out and counters. Hernandez then goes for a takedown, and he gets tossed out of the way and tagged with a serious jab from his foe. Shahbazyan steps in with a one-two that knocks Hernandez back, and Hernandez rolls with it to take away the worst of it but he cannot buy a takedown at this point. Shahbazyan counters an entry with a knee and stands his foe up when trying, and he scores an elbow and looks to counter with a takedown of his own. Hernandez jumps guard with a guillotine choke, and he bails on it to stand when it is not close. When both are up again, Shahbazyan kicks his foe in the chest, and Hernandez gives chase and drills him the face with a right hand. Hernandez jams his man into the wire, where he looks for a body lock takedown or a throw. Hernandez chains his attempt to a single, and he runs his foe from one side of the cage to the other but cannot ground him. Shahbazyan defends well and plants a knee on the chest, and Hernandez slashes an elbow over the top to cut open the left eyebrow. Hernandez shoots and finds himself in guillotine choke danger, and he turns all the way through it to get out. Shahbazyan rolls to his back to go after an armbar, and he loses the grip and winds up in choke danger on his own side. Hernandez looks for a modified arm-in guillotine choke, and he lets it go so that he can take the fight down on his own terms. Shahbazyan works his way up, and he eats a few elbows and succumbs to a double with 20 seconds to spare. Hernandez sets up a rear-naked choke while his foe is seated, and Shahbazyan stands up and takes a knee on the chin before the horn sounds to end the wild frame.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Round 2
The middleweights meet in the center of the cage, and Hernandez lands a punch, a kick and shoots in for a takedown. When Shahbazyan turns it around on him, Hernandez goes for his unorthodox guillotine again. Shahbazyan turns through to get to a knee, and he stands up and pushes off with a right hand. The two trade jabs, their pace slowed momentarily, and Hernandez chains a jab into an elbow. When Shahbazyan backs into the cage, Hernandez rings his bell with a straight right hand. This leads to a tie-up, and both men fight to get a takedown and drop to a knee. Shahbazyan drops down for a single, and Hernandez dumps him on his face, turns the corner and hits a double. Hernandez lets him sit up so he can punch him in the face, and he stays pinned to a fatiguing Shahbazyan and looks to pick him up and throw him down again. Shahbazyan stands up and gets kneed in the chest, and he is fading fast as Hernandez is on him, smothering him or landing punches. Hernandez grabs hold of a guillotine choke, and he flips his foe over to full mount. When Shahbazyan scrambles, Hernandez transitions the choke to another side, and then to an anaconda. Shahbazyan escapes them all, winding up on top, but Hernandez is on him with another guillotine in the blink of an eye. Hernandez takes his back and looks for a choke, all while working Shahbazyan over with elbows when he can find one. Hernandez goes for another one of his strange guillotine chokes, and he lets it go to take the back and fish for a rear-naked choke. Shahbazyan turns and defends properly, but he cannot get Hernandez off of him. Hernandez sits up with fierce punches and elbows, and he thumps Shahbazyan with elbows to the head, body and thigh until the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Hernandez
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Hernandez
Round 3
The fighters have reached the last round, and Hernandez reintroduces himself to his foe with a head kick. It does not take more than about 12 seconds for Hernandez to hit a takedown, and he sits up and starts belting the spent Shahbazyan with punches and elbows.
The elbows from “Fluffy” have opened up another cut on the face of his opponent, and he sits up and keeps beating on his doomed adversary. Hernandez, seeing that he has Shahbazyan at the end of his rope, slashes down with elbows and adds in few punches to seal the deal. Dean, seeing that Shahbazyan is completely cooked, intervenes for a merciful stoppage
, saving the young fighter from any further punishment. “Fluffy” made a seriously statement to the rest of the middleweight division with this gutsy performance, and he might have a number next to his name next week, now celebrating four stoppages in row.
The Official Result
Alexander Hernandez def. Edmen Shahbazyan R3 1:01 via TKO (Elbows and Punches)
Angelo picks Anthony Hernandez confidently, citing his superior grappling and high takedown volume. He notes that while Hernandez's control could be better, Shahbazyan struggles to get back to his feet when taken down. He considers Hernandez safe for parlays.
Big Brady picks Anthony Hernandez to submit Edmen Shahbazyan in the second round. He calls it a terrible matchup for Shahbazyan, who has historically faded in later rounds. Hernandez is known for his cardio, pressure, and wrestling, and should break Shahbazyan. He notes Shahbazyan is dangerous early but expects Hernandez to weather the storm and finish him in the second.
Cody highlights Hernandez's relentless wrestling and cardio, noting he averaged 8 takedowns in his last two fights. He contrasts Shahbazyan's tendency to fade after the first round and poor takedown defense. He expects Hernandez to wear Shahbazyan down with chain wrestling and secure a late finish or dominant decision.
Connor picks Shahbazyan, citing his much cleaner striking and the potential to finish Hernandez early. He acknowledges the risk of Hernandez's pace but believes Shahbazyan's improved camp (ditching Tiverdian, sparring with Sean Strickland, training at Xtreme Couture) and his composed performance against Lungiambula are good signs. He thinks Shahbazyan could easily knock Hernandez out or tune him up, and that Hernandez's wide-open striking leaves opportunities for Shahbazyan to land clean shots.
Daniel Levi confidently picks Anthony 'Fluffy' Hernandez. He highlights Hernandez's relentless takedown game, noting he landed 16 takedowns in his last two fights (8/11 vs Josh Fremd, 8/14 vs Marc-André Barriault). He believes Hernandez will survive Shahbazyan's dangerous first round and then break him with pressure and grappling, as Shahbazyan has historically faded past the first round. Levi acknowledges Hernandez's durability concerns (body shots) but thinks his wrestling and cardio will be the difference.
The host is very confident in Anthony Hernandez, calling it a smash spot. He believes Hernandez's relentless forward pressure, cardio, and grappling will drown Shahbazyan, who has cardio issues. He predicts a submission in round two, noting that if Shahbazyan doesn't get an early KO, Hernandez will take over.
Paul agrees, citing Hernandez's improved pace and cardio, and the stylistic advantage of his wrestling against Shahbazyan's suspect takedown defense. He notes that Shahbazyan's cardio issues are likely to be exploited, leading to Hernandez dominating later rounds.
The MMA Guru picks Anthony Hernandez, calling him a style designed to beat Edmen Shahbazyan. He highlights Hernandez's pace-pushing wrestling and scrambles, which he believes will get into Shahbazyan's head. He notes Shahbazyan's demons may creep in as the fight goes on, and that Hernandez is a nightmare matchup. He acknowledges a chance Shahbazyan wins by first-round TKO but expects Hernandez to overcome early danger and win.
Zane picks Hernandez because he believes Shahbazyan's historical issues with pace and grappling pressure will resurface. He notes that Hernandez has one of the best gas tanks and pushes a relentless pace, which is exactly the kind of problem Shahbazyan has struggled with. Even with Shahbazyan's improved camp and confidence from his last win, Zane needs to see more than a win over Dalcha Lungiambula to trust him against a pressure fighter like Hernandez.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 0 | 54 of 107 | 50% | 60 of 113 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:08 |
| Dalcha Lungiambula | 0 | 23 of 48 | 47% | 26 of 51 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmen Shahbazyan | 0 | 20 of 35 | 57% | 26 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:52 |
| Dalcha Lungiambula | 0 | 11 of 22 | 50% | 14 of 25 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 | |
| 2 | Edmen Shahbazyan | 0 | 34 of 72 | 47% | 34 of 72 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:16 |
| Dalcha Lungiambula | 0 | 12 of 26 | 46% | 12 of 26 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 54 of 107 | 50% | 31 of 78 | 20 of 25 | 3 of 4 | 37 of 72 | 7 of 10 | 10 of 25 |
| Dalcha Lungiambula | 23 of 48 | 47% | 6 of 24 | 11 of 18 | 6 of 6 | 22 of 46 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmen Shahbazyan | 20 of 35 | 57% | 4 of 16 | 13 of 15 | 3 of 4 | 17 of 32 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Dalcha Lungiambula | 11 of 22 | 50% | 1 of 8 | 5 of 9 | 5 of 5 | 11 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Edmen Shahbazyan | 34 of 72 | 47% | 27 of 62 | 7 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 20 of 40 | 4 of 7 | 10 of 25 |
| Dalcha Lungiambula | 12 of 26 | 46% | 5 of 16 | 6 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 24 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Shahbazyan (-280), Lungiambula (+235)
Round 1
Once a surging contender, Shahbazyan (11-3, 4-3 UFC) has his back against the wall after three straight humbling losses. The 25-year-old took a long time off and changed camps from Glendale Fighting Club to Xtreme Couture in hopes of a new beginning, and this path will officially start when he faces fellow powerhouse Lungiambula (11-5, 2-4 UFC). This fight that could last 15 seconds or 15 minutes will be officiated by referee Chris Tognoni, who observes the two men touching gloves first. Shahbazyan leads off with a jab, and he swats away a body kick. Two punches come over the top from “The Golden Boy,” who follows the strikes with a low kick. Lungiambula swings and misses with a kick, and the fighters in alternating stands hand-fight without throwing much. Shahbazyan stings his man with a right hand over the top, but it is one-and-done without any subsequent effort. Shahbazyan dodges a counter and lands two right hands to the head and body, and Lungiambula springs into action and leaps in with heavy swatting punches. Shahbazyan works the body with a right hand and a kick, hoping to take some of the power out of the man known as “Champion.” Lungiambula blocks a head kick, and they both get off loud body kicks. Shahbazyan swings a kick to the midsection and then goes up high with the other leg, and he ducks out of the way when looping hooks fly over his head. Lungiambula sits down on a thudding body kick, and Shahbazyan answers him in their slow-paced version of Paco vs. Frank Dux from “Bloodsport.” Unlike that fight, Lungiambula choose to shoot in for a takedown, and Shahbazyan bounces off the fence as he hops away to defend it. Shahbazyan turns him around in the clinch and knees to the body are traded, and the two stall out in this position with short strikes offered from each. Shahbazyan partially absorbs a knee to the groin, complains, and when that falls on deaf ears, he pushes off. After the lull in action, Shahbazyan dodges a head kick just in the nick of time. Lungiambula swings for the bleachers, falling over in the process, catching Shahbazyan with a few punches but missing with most. The horn sounds, and Lungiambula throws one more punch that misses by a matter of inches, and Tognoni admonishes him.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Shahbazyan
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Shahbazyan
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Shahbazyan
Round 2
The middleweights meet in the middle without a glove touch this time, and Lungiambula reintroduces him with a whipping kick to the ribs. Lungiambula chases with a one-two, and he stuns Shahbazyan with a short right hand. Shahbazyan answers with a power right of his own, and Lungiambula ignores it and throws his whole body into a looping left hand that misses the mark widely. Lungiambula cracks his man with a left hand, and the punch bounces off the head and hits the groin in an unusual ricochet. Shahbazyan is upset with the perceived foul, and Tognoni calls it and lets Shahbazyan recover. They get back to it after about a minute break, and they continue to swing single haymakers at one another. When they clash together throwing so hard, Shahbazyan connects with a knee to the chin, and Lungiambula answers with a head kick that wobbles “The Golden Boy.” Lungiambula slowly plods forward as Shahbazyan skirts away on the outside, and he wings power strikes with bad intentions. Shahbazyan responds with a right hook and a body kick, and he gets back on his bike. Lungiambula walks him down and connects twice, and he smacks the body with a kick. Shahbazyan fires off a right hand and a head kick, and Lungiambula dives forward after taking a subsequent body shot for a level change.
Shahbazyan answers this with a ferocious knee right on the chin, and Lungiambula is stung. Shahbazyan unleashes a fury of knees and punches, knocking Lungiambula against the wall and hurting him badly. Lungiambula loosely responds with a right hook that misses the mark, and Shahbazyan blasts him with a knee and is on him like a cheap suit, forcing a desperate Lungiambula to his knees. Shahbazyan unloads with punches to the side of the head as he tries to put his man away, and Lungiambula is stuck and just trying to protect himself without moving.
This is enough for Tognoni to intervene, as he feels “Champion” is no longer intelligently defending himself. Shahbazyan claims that he is back, and that he is “Vegas Edmen” now, having put an end to a rough skid with a second-round stoppage.
The Official Result
Edmen Shahbazyan def. Dalcha Lungiambula R2 4:41 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Shahbazyan despite his three-fight losing streak, because Lungiambula has terrible cardio and tends to gas out after wrestling. He notes that Shahbazyan's takedown defense is suspect (57%) and Lungiambula is a judo black belt who could take him down, but Lungiambula's tendency to exhaust himself makes him vulnerable. Angelo warns not to put Shahbazyan in parlays as he could be a parlay buster.
Big Brady picks Edmen Shahbazyan, noting the significant step down in competition. He highlights Shahbazyan's power and well-rounded skills, while criticizing Lungiambula's poor gas tank and low volume. He expects Shahbazyan to win by second round knockout, possibly by wrestling to tire Lungiambula.
Cody picks Shahbazyan, citing his talent and that he has moved to a new gym (Extreme Couture). He thinks Lungiambula is a gatekeeper on a losing streak and that Shahbazyan should win if he doesn't gas. He notes Shahbazyan's previous losses were to top competition and that this is a step down.
Daniel Levi picks Edmen Shahbazyan but with low confidence, calling him a 'fraud past the first round.' He notes Shahbazyan is a potent first-round finisher but has broken every time he's gone past the first round. Levi acknowledges Dalcha Lungiambula's power and experience in later rounds, but thinks Shahbazyan may catch him early. He warns against laying the -280 price and says if Shahbazyan doesn't finish in the first, he will likely quit. Levi picks Shahbazyan by first-round finish but advises against betting him.
Lock is on the inside the distance line for Shahbazyan, agreeing with the co-host that this is a good jumping-off point to buy in at $1.35. He thinks the move to Extreme Couture was the best thing for his career, and that the team will help him remember what he's good at and how to get finishes. He expects a rejuvenated version of Shahbazyan and believes he will put together a couple of good wins, though he doesn't expect a huge bump immediately.
Paul picks Shahbazyan but is scared off by the price. He notes Lungiambula has power and could land a shot, but thinks Shahbazyan should win. He is not confident enough to lay the juice.
The MMA Guru picks Edmen Shahbazyan over Dalcha Lungiambula, despite initially considering the underdog. He notes that Shahbazyan's losses are to top competition like Nassourdine Imavov and Jack Hermansson, and he looked impressive against Brad Tavares. He believes Shahbazyan has improved his grappling and training at Extreme Couture with Ankalaev, and will survive an early storm to win by TKO in the second or third round.
Dylan Budka - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 1 | 7 of 15 | 46% | 7 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Dylan Budka | 0 | 1 of 16 | 6% | 1 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmen Shahbazyan | 1 | 7 of 15 | 46% | 7 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Dylan Budka | 0 | 1 of 16 | 6% | 1 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmen Shahbazyan | 7 of 15 | 46% | 5 of 13 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 |
| Dylan Budka | 1 of 16 | 6% | 1 of 12 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmen Shahbazyan | 7 of 15 | 46% | 5 of 13 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 |
| Dylan Budka | 1 of 16 | 6% | 1 of 12 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Shahbazyan (-355), Budka (+280)
Round 1
In the “featured fight of the night” slot, a .500 fighter with 10 UFC outings goes up against one that has fought and lost twice. Momentum may not be the word of the day here, but the terms ‘pink slip’ or ‘destruction’ could be. Hoping to keep their jobs, Shahbazyan (13-5, 5-5 UFC) aims to follow the successes that David Gladfelter and Cesar Almeida had against Budka (7-4, 0-2 UFC). Keep tabs on the middleweights is referee Chris Tognoni, who stands by as the fighters engage in a clap of hands. Shahbazyan walks forward, through a right hand that catches him fairly cleanly, so he can flick out a pair of jabs. Budka lets fly a body kick, and he parries Shahbazyan coming forward. Budka drives forward behind a pair of jabs, and Shahbazyan sees this coming as a wry grin wraps across his face from ear to ear.
“The Golden Boy” fades back and plants a right hand square on the chin, and Budka’s balance immediately betrays him as he stumbles back and hits the deck. Shahbazyan rushes at “The Mindless Hulk,” depriving him of any further brain cells with a few hammerfists before Tognoni has seen more than enough.
Shahbazyan races off to celebrate with his corner, shocked that their timely advice of a pull-back right hand played out perfectly. That is one more highlight on the reel of the 27-year-old, who may not be totally washed despite the complaints of critics and colleagues.
The Official Result
Edmen Shahbazyan def. Dylan Budka R1 1:35 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Dylan Budka despite acknowledging that many people think Budka is not good. He argues that Budka has very good offensive wrestling and Edmen Shahbazyan has poor takedown defense (65%) and is useless on the ground. He believes Budka can win with wrestling alone, and that the odds are upside down.
Big Brady picks Shahbazyan by first-round submission, arguing Budka is not on the level of Shahbazyan's previous opponents. Shahbazyan has a huge striking advantage and is even the better grappler. He expects Shahbazyan to hurt Budka, who will panic wrestle, and then snatch a submission. If Shahbazyan loses, he should retire.
Connor picks Edmen Shahbazyan, agreeing with Zane that Budka is not ready for this level. He emphasizes Budka's lack of range game and his need for constant coaching, which makes him operate three steps behind. Connor notes that Shahbazyan, despite his own issues, has the depth of skill to bulldoze opponents like Budka. He also suggests that Shahbazyan might have benefited from being cut from the UFC earlier, like Zalal, to fix his problems.
Lucrative James picks Edmen Shahbazyan to win by KO, viewing this as a clear step down in competition for Shahbazyan. He notes that Shahbazyan's losses have come against high-level opponents like Gerald Meerschaert, Anthony Hernandez, and Nassourdine Imavov, while Dylan Budka has not shown UFC-level skills. He believes Shahbazyan's improved grappling and pace will be enough, and that Budka lacks the tools to exploit Shahbazyan's known cardio issues. He expects a finish inside the distance.
Shahbazyan has a big technical gap over Budka and can put him away early, likely within the first round. If it goes longer, his cardio becomes an issue. The -360 odds are iffy but Shahbazyan wins inside the distance.
The MMA Guru picks Edmen Shahbazyan to win by early TKO in round one or two. He acknowledges Shahbazyan's past struggles with wrestling and cardio but believes Dylan Budka won't be able to take him down until it's too late. He trusts Shahbazyan's development at Xtreme Couture.
Zane picks Edmen Shahbazyan confidently, despite acknowledging Shahbazyan's well-documented flaws. He notes that Shahbazyan still crushes low-level middleweights and that Dylan Budka is a particularly limited fighter with no range game, no jab, no kicks, and a history of needing excessive in-cage coaching. Zane compares Budka to a 'no-legged man' in an ass-kicking contest, making Shahbazyan the clear pick. He also mentions that Shahbazyan's issues (fading after strong starts) are unlikely to be exploited by Budka.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Petroski | 0 | 23 of 46 | 50% | 78 of 109 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 9:20 |
| Dylan Budka | 0 | 17 of 53 | 32% | 23 of 59 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andre Petroski | 0 | 8 of 17 | 47% | 15 of 27 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:46 |
| Dylan Budka | 0 | 4 of 16 | 25% | 7 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Andre Petroski | 0 | 7 of 12 | 58% | 36 of 46 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:47 |
| Dylan Budka | 0 | 8 of 18 | 44% | 9 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Andre Petroski | 0 | 8 of 17 | 47% | 27 of 36 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:47 |
| Dylan Budka | 0 | 5 of 19 | 26% | 7 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Petroski | 23 of 46 | 50% | 16 of 36 | 5 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 17 of 38 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 7 |
| Dylan Budka | 17 of 53 | 32% | 14 of 48 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 13 of 49 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andre Petroski | 8 of 17 | 47% | 5 of 13 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 5 |
| Dylan Budka | 4 of 16 | 25% | 3 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Andre Petroski | 7 of 12 | 58% | 5 of 9 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Dylan Budka | 8 of 18 | 44% | 6 of 15 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 7 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Andre Petroski | 8 of 17 | 47% | 6 of 14 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
| Dylan Budka | 5 of 19 | 26% | 5 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 16 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Petroski (-278), Budka (+225)
Round 1
Despite holding a UFC record with six wins opposite two defeats, Pennsylvania-based grappler Petroski (11-3, 6-2 UFC) finds himself deposited haphazardly on the early prelims. Instead of reaching towards opposition in the top 20, he collides with a man in Budka (7-3, 0-1 UFC) who calls himself “The Mindless Hulk” that cannot find the middleweight limit. The favored Petroski will receive 20% of his foe’s purse, and he will be thanking his lucky stars the fight is still on considering the poor condition of Budka on the scales on Friday. The two receive oversight from referee Mark Smith in the cage, and while Budka offers an apologetic glove touch, Petroski wants nothing to do with it. Instead, he proceeds to walk Budka down, parrying a high kick and a few big punches, and he sees Budka active but inaccurate when approaching him. Petroski digs a kick to the ribs, and it is one-and-done as the two feint and fake at one another. Budka circles on the outer edge of the cage, lifting up an intercepting knee and doing so a second time but bumping into Petroski’s cup. Petroski walks him down, swinging his right hand out, but he pulls back when seeing “The Mindless Hulk” mindlessly leaps at him and missing by a wide margin. Petroski punches his way into a body kick, and he scoops Budka up and dumps him to the floor. Petroski lands in half guard, where he grinds his elbow into the jaw and is otherwise focused on control over damage. Petroski lowers himself flat on top, and when he wraps a few punches around the head, he is warned for punching the back of Budka’s melon. Budka bucks but is completely nullified on his back, although he hands on to prevent Petroski from getting off much. Petroski frees his right arm and rattles off five or six punches to the head and side, and Budka wraps him up once more. Petroski keeps smothering as he looks to step over to mount, and he succeeds in moving to the dominant position with 10 seconds to spare. Budka hangs on tight, and the bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Petroski
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Petroski
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Petroski
Round 2
Petroski begins the round aggressively as before, ducking a punch to counter with a left. Budka bites down on his mouthpiece and slings leather, and Petroski largely ducks and rolls with the worst of the blows. Budka tosses out a high kick that bounces off the shoulder, and he slides to the side to avoid a two-hook swarm. Petroski slips on his way in, and when he regains his footing, he walks face-first into an uppercut. Petroski shoots for a takedown, bailing on it to knee his man in the sternum, and then softening up the inner thigh with additional knees. Budka breaks free and looks for an uppercut, but Petroski catches him with a clean left hand to stagger him for a moment. Budka lashes out with a head kick that gets Petroski’s attention, leading Petroski to pursue a takedown that he lands successfully. Budka remains defensively minded, protecting his mug from much of Petroski’s attacks. Petroski elbows the body of his opponent as he stays busy to keep Smith from asking for more action, and Budka clings to him like Saran wrap to force a standup. Petroski relocates himself to half guard while Budka scoots his side to the cage wall, and “The Mindless Hulk” tugs his toes on the chain links to try to improve his position. Smith sees the foul and tells Budka to knock it off, and then calls for Petroski to do more from on top. Petroski is warned for gouging Budka’s eyes as he holds his hand on Budka’s mouth and nose. Petroski grabs the fence hard to turn himself to a better posture, and Smith loudly warns him for the clear and obvious foul. Petroski postures up but still hangs on in a controlling position instead of inflicting a great deal of damage. Budka is stuck on his back, but at least he is not getting beaten down. Petroski tries to drop down a pair of elbows, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Petroski
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Petroski
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Petroski
Round 3
Before the last round kicks off, Smith issues a stern warning to Petroski for fence grabs and additional fouls. Petroski nods and the round begins. Budka looses an early head kick, and he finds that even bouncing off the guard it has a noticeable effect, so he chucks another. Petroski walks Budka down, sticking his left hand in Budka’s jaw when Budka advances. Petroski sits down on a low kick, and Budka considers a counter but pulls back on it at the last second. Petroski pushes out a one-two, and he sneaks a jab under the raised guard. Budka whiffs on his own one-two, and Petroski slips and counters with a short right. Petroski turns a single-leg takedown entry into a double-leg takedown, and he lifts the Ohio native off his feet to deposit him gingerly to the mat. Petroski positions himself in half guard, and he hammers Budka with a clean right hand. Petroski drops down a few more, and he thwarts Budka’s desperate escape attempt with heavy shoulder pressure and an elbow on Budka’s nose. Budka pushes off the wall to get to a better position and potentially wall-walk, but this only allows Petroski to step over to full mount. Petroski has firmly embraced the grind, with so little activity offensively that Smith is calling for more action while Petroski has Budka mounted. Budka pushes off the fence, but he does not escape before the grinder of a matchup concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Petroski (30-27 Petroski)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Petroski (30-27 Petroski)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Petroski (30-27 Petroski)
The Official Result
Andre Petroski def. Dylan Budka via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo picks Andre Petroski because he is the better wrestler with good takedowns and power, and if he sticks to his wrestling he should win. He notes that Dylan Budka is also a grappler but not as good a striker, and Andre's path to victory is straightforward. However, he is hesitant to bet at the current odds of nearly 3-to-1, preferring closer to 1.5-to-1.
Big Brady picks Andre Petroski to win by second-round submission. He believes Petroski has a striking advantage and is the much better grappler, with slick BJJ and multiple submissions. He notes that Budka has been submitted before and that Petroski's cardio looked improved in his last fight. Brady sees many avenues for Petroski to win, including knockout or decision, but leans submission.
Cody picks Petroski, citing his superior wrestling and BJJ, and Budka's lack of improvement. He notes Budka's gym is low-level and he has not faced good competition. He expects Petroski to win by submission or decision.
Daniel is not confident in this pick. He calls both fighters boring wrestlers but notes that when two wrestlers fight, it often becomes a striking match. He picks Petroski by default due to UFC experience, but admits he doesn't trust Petroski and hasn't seen enough from Budka.
Petroski is a superior wrestler and BJJ specialist who should dominate Budka on the ground. Budka is more of a bully with size than a technical fighter, and his cardio is suspect. Petroski can dictate the pace and likely wins easily, possibly by submission. Budka's only path is a Hail Mary KO.
Paul picks Petroski, noting his wrestling and BJJ advantage over Budka, who has poor striking and cardio. He believes Petroski can take Budka down and control him, and has shown ability to finish. He is not confident in the price but sees it as a good matchup.
The MMA Guru picks Andre Petroski but expresses concern about his chin. He heavily criticizes Dylan Budka, calling him awful at fighting and accusing him of faking wrestling credentials. He believes Petroski has better MMA grappling and stand-up, but worries about his 'diabolical chin' after being KO'd by a hip in his last fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| César Almeida | 0 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 6 of 11 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 5:53 |
| Dylan Budka | 0 | 29 of 38 | 76% | 87 of 101 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | César Almeida | 0 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 6 of 8 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 4:32 |
| Dylan Budka | 0 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 43 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | César Almeida | 0 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:21 |
| Dylan Budka | 0 | 28 of 36 | 77% | 44 of 55 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| César Almeida | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Dylan Budka | 29 of 38 | 76% | 21 of 29 | 7 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 11 | 19 of 21 | 3 of 6 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | César Almeida | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Dylan Budka | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | César Almeida | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Dylan Budka | 28 of 36 | 77% | 21 of 28 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 9 | 19 of 21 | 3 of 6 |
Angelo leans Dylan Budka (whom he accidentally calls Gillan) because he is a grappler facing a striker. He expects Budka to shoot takedowns instantly and not stand and strike with César Almeida, a high-level kickboxer. He notes that Almeida's takedown defense is unknown and that defending trips on Contender Series is different from defending actual shots. However, he acknowledges the unknowns with UFC debuts.
Big Brady picks César Almeida as the underdog, citing that Almeida is the much better striker with an extensive kickboxing background. He notes that the judges have been emphasizing damage over control, which favors Almeida's big shots. However, he acknowledges that Budka could rack up control time with wrestling, but doubts Budka will do much with it. He sees a close fight with Almeida landing bigger shots and winning a decision.
Cody picks Almeida as a dog, citing his win over Alex Pereira in kickboxing and his striking advantage. He notes Budka is a one-dimensional wrestler with poor cardio, and that Almeida's takedown defense, while not great, may be enough to get back to his feet. Cody thinks Almeida's striking will be the difference, especially if Budka tires.
Daniel Vreeland picks César Almeida, expecting him to overcome early grappling scares and take over on the feet in later rounds. He notes Almeida's kickboxing pedigree from fighting Patan three times and his ability to get back up after takedowns. Vreeland believes Almeida's body shots, leg kicks, and jab will slow Budka's takedown attempts, allowing Almeida to finesse him on the feet.
Almeida is technically the better striker with kickboxing experience, including a win over Alex Pereira. He showed improved grappling in his last fight, which should help nullify Budka's clinch and grinding. Budka is physically strong but lacks technique; Almeida can damage him in close with knees and elbows, then win by decision.
Paul picks Budka but with low conviction. He notes Budka is a one-dimensional wrestler, while Almeida is a kickboxer with poor takedown defense. Paul thinks Budka can grind out a win by takedowns and control, but acknowledges Almeida's striking pedigree and the possibility of a knockout. He calls it a pass fight.
The host emphasizes Budka's elite high school wrestling credentials (87-5 record, national champion, All-American) and contrasts it with Almeida's kickboxing background. He notes that Almeida was taken down by Lucas Fernando, who has no wrestling background, and argues Budka's wrestling will be the decisive factor. He predicts Budka will dominate with takedowns and calls it a lock, threatening to quit covering the sport if Budka doesn't outwrestle Almeida.
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo picks Dylan Budka despite acknowledging that many people think Budka is not good. He argues that Budka has very good offensive wrestling and Edmen Shahbazyan has poor takedown defense (65%) and is useless on the ground. He believes Budka can win with wrestling alone, and that the odds are upside down.
Big Brady picks Shahbazyan by first-round submission, arguing Budka is not on the level of Shahbazyan's previous opponents. Shahbazyan has a huge striking advantage and is even the better grappler. He expects Shahbazyan to hurt Budka, who will panic wrestle, and then snatch a submission. If Shahbazyan loses, he should retire.
Connor picks Edmen Shahbazyan, agreeing with Zane that Budka is not ready for this level. He emphasizes Budka's lack of range game and his need for constant coaching, which makes him operate three steps behind. Connor notes that Shahbazyan, despite his own issues, has the depth of skill to bulldoze opponents like Budka. He also suggests that Shahbazyan might have benefited from being cut from the UFC earlier, like Zalal, to fix his problems.
Lucrative James picks Edmen Shahbazyan to win by KO, viewing this as a clear step down in competition for Shahbazyan. He notes that Shahbazyan's losses have come against high-level opponents like Gerald Meerschaert, Anthony Hernandez, and Nassourdine Imavov, while Dylan Budka has not shown UFC-level skills. He believes Shahbazyan's improved grappling and pace will be enough, and that Budka lacks the tools to exploit Shahbazyan's known cardio issues. He expects a finish inside the distance.
Shahbazyan has a big technical gap over Budka and can put him away early, likely within the first round. If it goes longer, his cardio becomes an issue. The -360 odds are iffy but Shahbazyan wins inside the distance.
The MMA Guru picks Edmen Shahbazyan to win by early TKO in round one or two. He acknowledges Shahbazyan's past struggles with wrestling and cardio but believes Dylan Budka won't be able to take him down until it's too late. He trusts Shahbazyan's development at Xtreme Couture.
Zane picks Edmen Shahbazyan confidently, despite acknowledging Shahbazyan's well-documented flaws. He notes that Shahbazyan still crushes low-level middleweights and that Dylan Budka is a particularly limited fighter with no range game, no jab, no kicks, and a history of needing excessive in-cage coaching. Zane compares Budka to a 'no-legged man' in an ass-kicking contest, making Shahbazyan the clear pick. He also mentions that Shahbazyan's issues (fading after strong starts) are unlikely to be exploited by Budka.
Comments (1)
Seems like a mismatch, Edmen had potential to be champ or top 15. Dylan is a bag of dicks. t
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