Edmen Shahbazyan Looks to Complete Perfect 2019 with Finish of Brad Tavares at UFC 244
Edmen Shahbazyan will look to go 4-0 in the Ultimate Fighting Championship overall and 3-0 this year when he faces Brad Tavares at UFC 244 on Saturday.
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“I’m blessed to be fighting on these cards and it motivates me to be on these cards,” Shahbazyan said to Sherdog.com. “Having big names and more eyes on me. Just performing with the added pressure.”
Shahbazyan was initially set to fight Krzysztof
Jotko, but he believes Tavares is a better opponent for him,
especially in terms of rankings.
“Yeah, he is a better ranking. Each fight you win you are going to fight better competition, so I am prepared for all of them,” he explained. “Once I got into the UFC it is all tough guys so I have to be prepared.”
Tavares has not fought since July 2018, but Shahbazyan doesn’t expect the layoff to hinder his opponent. Instead, the Contender Series alum is expecting a tough fight where he hopes he will get another finish but won’t force anything.
“I see it being a really good fight because he is a tough, durable guy. We will put on a show for the fans. But, I see me coming out with the victory first and foremost, and if it is a finish it is a finish,” he said. “Whatever it is, I am just going out there to perform and get the win.”
Shahazyan expects that a victory could vault him into the middleweight rankings.
“I believe a win over Brad Tavares will put me in the Top 10 and give some opportunities to fight these Top 10 guys next,” Shahbazyan said.
Once that happens, the possibility of being the youngest UFC champion is still there, as Jon Jones last set the record at age 23.
“That is the goal to be the youngest champion but I take it one fight at a time. If we get there we get there,” he said.
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