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UFC Welterweight

Niko Price VS Leon Shahbazyan

Meta Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.

Tale of the Tape

17-11-0, 2 NC Record 12-6-0
37 Age 30
183 cm Height 193 cm
193 cm Reach 189 cm
orthodox Stance orthodox
82% Finish rate 100%
65% KO rate 8%
18% Sub rate 92%

Result Summary

Niko Price def. Leon Shahbazyan TKO (Punches) · R1 1:58

Returning from retirement for a farewell fight, fan-favorite Niko Price delivered an absolute masterclass in violence against Leon Shahbazyan. The bout was completely one-sided from the first second. Price came charging out of his corner with his trademark chaotic aggression, overwhelming Shahbazyan immediately. Shahbazyan was entirely frozen by the pressure, failing to land a single significant strike throughout the entire contest. Price backed him up against the fence and unloaded a barrage of heavy punches, tearing through Shahbazyan's guard until the referee had seen enough. The bout was called at 01:58 of Round 1, allowing Price to ride off into the sunset with a flawless, spectacular knockout.

Fight Overview

Niko Price (16-11) makes a comeback from brief retirement to face Leon Shahbazyan (12-5) in a welterweight clash that doubles as a story of reinvention for both men. Price, known for durability and wild brawling action, stepped away after a loss to Michael Chiesa before returning to the APEX; Shahbazyan made his welterweight debut and seeks his first UFC win in the division, having arrived from middleweight where he was once a ranked prospect.

Keys to Victory

Niko Price

  1. Channel his well-documented durability and chaotic striking style to drag Shahbazyan into a dog fight where anything can happen.
  2. Use his experience edge — 16 career wins — to stay composed when Shahbazyan's power shots land and fight back immediately.
  3. Impose wrestling when the standup becomes too dangerous; Price has more submission wins than his brawler reputation suggests.

Leon Shahbazyan

  1. Establish his power advantage early with clean, technical combinations before Price's durability makes it a war of attrition.
  2. Keep his footwork active to prevent Price from clinching and neutralizing the striking range where Shahbazyan is most dangerous.
  3. Earn his first UFC victory in the welterweight division by showing a clear game plan, not just hoping his power carries the night.

Last 5 fights

Niko Price

  1. L Michael Chiesa Submission · R1 1:03 · 28 MAR 2026
  2. L Nikolay Veretennikov TKO · R1 1:42 · 7 FEB 2026
  3. L Jacobe Smith Submission · R2 4:03 · 28 JUN 2025
  4. L Themba Gorimbo Decision · R3 5:00 · 12 OCT 2024
  5. W Alex Morono Decision · R3 5:00 · 1 JUN 2024

Leon Shahbazyan

  1. L Levan Chokheli TKO · R1 0:23 · 20 JUN 2026
  2. W Robert Hale Submission · R1 3:34 · 13 MAR 2026
  3. W Glaucio Eliziario Submission · R1 0:43 · 26 SEPT 2025
  4. W Aaron Phillips Submission · R1 0:47 · 17 JUL 2025
  5. W Aireon Tavarres Submission · R1 4:40 · 14 FEB 2025

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AI-generated This analysis was generated with AI and may contain errors.

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