Niko Price vs Leon Shahbazyan

💪 This is Price’s farewell fight, and his current form leaves much to be desired: he’s on a four-fight losing streak, with his last two defeats coming by first-round stoppage. Shahbazyan also stumbled in his UFC debut, suffering a loss to Levan Chokheli just 23 seconds into the contest. Still, prior to that, Shahbazyan’s pro record was almost exclusively built on finishes: 11 submission wins and 11 first-round stoppages.

The key factor in this matchup is the ground game. Price thrives in chaotic stand-up exchanges and remains dangerous even now, but Leon doesn’t have to play that game—most of his victories have come after taking the fight to the mat. Given Price’s current vulnerabilities, the younger fighter has a clear alternative route to victory if the striking exchanges become too risky. My pick: Shahbazyan to win.