Edmen Shahbazyan releases statement following loss
Edmen Shahbazyan came into Saturday’s main event riding a monumental hype after bursting into the UFC undefeated.
After stepping in on short notice headliner to fight the UFC veteran Derek Brunson, it seemed everything was lining up for another win.
But the undefeated rising star received a rude welcome to the Top 10 in the middleweight division. Brunson punished Shahbazyan with vicious elbows and ground-and-pound before earring the third-round TKO finish.
Following the fight, the 22-year old was transported to the hospital for treatment and stitches.
Shahbazyan released a statement to provide an update on his condition.
“I’m OK everyone just need some stitches,” Shahbazyan wrote on Instagram. “Thank you for all your messages, love you all!
“Congrats to Derek Brunson tonight, he did a great job. No excuses, it’s the fight game and I’ll be back! Blessed to have the support I have from everyone.”
He may have lost against a Top 10 veteran but UFC president Dana White believes the loss is just part of the game and Shahbazyan still has tons of potential.
“No, I wasn’t disappointed,” White said about Shahbazyan’s performance at the post-fight press conference. “Listen, everybody knew, no matter what the odds said, he’s going in against an experienced f**king guy.
“Brunson’s fought everybody. Shahbazyan hasn’t fought everybody and this is where you find out where a guy’s at tonight. You put him in against a guy like Derek Brunson.”
