A Performance of the Night-winning showing against Dalcha Lungiambula back in December allowed middleweight Edmen Shahbazyan a little breathing room.
The win, which snapped a three-fight skid the once-hot prospect had compiled, is something Shahbazyan is looking to build on, he said ahead of this Saturday’s UFC Vegas 73.
“Coming after a few losses in a row, and getting back with a win, definitely felt good,” Shahbazyan (12-3) said during the event’s media day on Wednesday. “I’m happy to have got a win, and we’re going to continue getting wins this Saturday.”
In that December match-up, Shahbazyan did his best to keep thoughts of past struggles from creeping in.
“At the end of the day, when I step in there, I try to clear my mind from the past, present— well from the past, and focus on the present. That’s what I did out there, and that’s what I plan to do this Saturday as well.”
The future, which arrives Saturday night in Las Vegas, has Shahbazyan pitted against Anthony Hernandez.
“I think he’s a solid opponent. Good cardio, good grappling base,” Shahbazyan said of the man nicknamed “Fluffy.” “But I’m ready for that. I’ve been training my ass off. And I’m going to implement my game Saturday and really show what I’m capable of.”
Hyped early on as the next big thing at middleweight thanks to his association with Ronda Rousey, Shahbazyan isn’t reading too much into the comeback storyline that’s currently being written about him.
“I want to just go fight by fight, one fight at a time, and be the best that I could be. I’m trying to go out there and perform, and put on a good fight, and show my improvements. I don’t really care about the whole ‘oh it’s Edmen, he’s back, he’s back.’ I’m doing my thing, I know what I’m capable of, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
As for his critics, who harped on past losses, Shahbazyan believes he’ll show them growth.
“I’m in the UFC to be the best. I’m not going to be the same fighter as I was from those losses,” he stated. “I’m going to obviously improve. I’m 25 right now and I’ve been in the UFC since I was 20. So I’m going to improve. I’m not here to just be the same fighter as I was and not have this, not have that. I’m going to improve on all the skills and be a better fighter every time.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 73 media day appearance by Edmen Shahbazyan above.
