UFC APEX – UFC middleweight AJ Dobson was supposed to fight at UFC 298, but a last second injury to his opponent bumped him to UFC Vegas 89 against Edmen Shahbazyan on Saturday night.
“Definitely disheartening. Spent a lot of time, a lot of money, missed a lot of stuff. I had a birthday and had to skip. Anniversary had to skip, didn’t really get rewarded in that, so it was definitely a punch to the stomach,” Dobson told reporters on Wednesday.
“I obviously got this opportunity so I was only sad for a few days.”
Dobson (7-2) comes into a tough fight against Shahbazyan after the rollercoaster of emotions from losing out on UFC 298. He barely missed a step as this fight came together rather quickly.
“I think I got that fight maybe a week later. I took a week off, got my body together, then was told about that fight. Jumped immediately back into camp,” Dobson said.
His opponent is part of Xtreme Couture which is home to former middleweight champion Sean Strickland. The effect that a championship-level training partner can have on a fighter is not lost on Dobson.
“I think this is going to be the best Edmen ever. People can look at his record and say whatever they want, but he’s still a part of a really good team. He’s been putting in work, he’s got to see that champion level camp with Sean, so I think I’m going to get the best Edmen,” he said.
“I’m prepared for that.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with AJ Dobson above. He takes on Edmen Shahbazyan at UFC Vegas 89 on Saturday night.
