Middleweight action is headed to the UFC’s May 20, 2023 Fight Night card.
The event will see Edmen Shahbazyan face off with Anthony Hernandez, with both fighters coming off big wins in their last outing.
ESPN was first to report news of the booking, with Shahbazyan and Hernandez both subsequently confirming the match-up on social media.
In December, Shahbazyan snapped a three-fight skid when he finished Dalcha Lungiambula with strikes at UFC 282. The victory was Shahbazyan’s first since November of 2019.
Shahbazyan had started his career on an 11-0 run before dropping fights to Derek Brunson, Jack Hermansson, and Nassourdine Imavov.
Hernandez earned a submission victory over Marc-Andre Barriault in September, extending his current win streak to three. That includes a stunning submission win over Rodolfo Vieira in 2021 that was voted our Submission of the Year.
“Fluffy” Hernandez joined the UFC in 2019 following an appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series. That win, over Jordan Wright, was later overturned to a No Contest due to a failed drug test for marijuana.
Anthony Hernandez captured the LFA middleweight title one fight prior to his DWCS appearance.
The UFC’s May 20, 2023 Fight Night event does not have a location, venue, or broadcast plan officially announced. Thus far, the following match-ups have been reported for the card:
- Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz
- Anthony Hernandez vs. Edmen Shahbazyan
