Edmen Shahbazyan says he’s made the necessary changes to try and get back into the win column.
The once undefeated and highly touted prospect has changed management and camps after enduring a three-fight losing skid. Shahbazyan (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) is now based out of Las Vegas and has taken a year off to round out his skills.
He returns against Dalcha Lungiambula (11-5 MMA, 2-4 UFC) on Saturday at UFC 282 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and early prelims on ESPN+.
“A lot of things changed,” Shahbazyan told MMA Junkie. “Just switched my management, switched my camp and my residency. Out here is amazing. I took a little over a year off just to improve and get better and work on any flaw that I had and just improve as a fighter. I’m happy to be where I’m at, so Saturday it’s gonna show.”
He continued, “With the coaching staff that I have now and training partners, all the high-level guys I have now, I feel like I’m getting so much better and have gotten so much better since my last fight.”
Shahbazyan’s past three losses came to ranked opposition in Derek Brunson, Jack Hermansson and Nassourdine Imavov, who predominantly tried to take him down. With 10 first-round finishes to his name, Shahbazyan is known for his fast starts, but when facing a fellow explosive fighter in Lungiambula, the 25-year-old will take a different approach.
“I know Dalcha is a powerful and explosive dude,” Shahbazyan said. “Whoever I face, I try to come in the best and prepare myself the best I can. And Dalcha, I’m ready for him. I’ve trained hard, worked hard and committed a lot, and I’ve sacrificed a lot. So I’m ready to put on a performance of my life and Saturday night, it’s gonna be good.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 282.
