Shahbazyan-Ferreira Set for UFC 331, Talks Life Outside Cage

Edmen Shahbazyan will look to snap a skid against Brunno Ferreira in a middleweight bout on the preliminary card of UFC 331, and the contender spent time away from fight-week business this week to talk movies, music and food on MMA Fighting's Anything But Fighting series.

The lighter sit-down comes at an interesting moment for Shahbazyan (16-6), who is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Brendan Allen that snapped a three-fight winning streak. Before that skid-ending defeat, "The Golden Boy" had rattled off notable wins over Andre Petroski, Andre Muniz, Jack Hermansson, Brad Tavares and Jack Marshman, the kind of resume that once had him pegged as one of the division's fastest-rising prospects.

Why the Ferreira Fight Matters for Shahbazyan

Beating Brunno Ferreira is about restoring momentum, not making a statement. Shahbazyan's career has been a story of hype followed by a gut-check loss, first as a can't-miss prospect who hit a wall against ranked veterans, then as a retooled winner who ran into Brendan Allen at the wrong time. A win over Ferreira on the UFC 331 prelims keeps him in the mix as a gatekeeper for the division's next wave. A loss, especially a bad one, would be his second setback in his last two outings and would start real questions about where he fits in a stacked 185-pound weight class.

Ferreira brings power and a finishing instinct that has made him a live underdog in past outings, and stylistically this is the kind of fight that can go sideways early for a returning fighter still shaking off ring rust from a decision loss.

Betting Angle

Books have Shahbazyan as the clear favorite here, with recent market pricing putting him around -185 and Ferreira closer to +154. That price reflects Shahbazyan's superior technical striking and better track record against comparable UFC-level competition, but bettors should note the number still leaves real value on the underdog given Ferreira's power and Shahbazyan's uneven recent form. Anyone leaning Shahbazyan should watch how he responds early. His fights against durable, aggressive strikers have been the ones where he's looked most hittable.

Away from the numbers, Shahbazyan used his sit-down with MMA Fighting's Jose Youngs to open up about the parts of his life that have nothing to do with fight camp, touching on his favorite movies, music, concerts and food. It's a rare glimpse of Shahbazyan outside the gym as he heads into a fight that matters plenty for his trajectory in the middleweight division.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Edmen Shahbazyan fighting next?

Edmen Shahbazyan faces Brunno Ferreira in a middleweight bout on the preliminary card of UFC 331.

What is Edmen Shahbazyan's record?

Edmen Shahbazyan enters his fight with Brunno Ferreira with a professional record of 16-6, coming off a unanimous decision loss to Brendan Allen.

Who has Edmen Shahbazyan beaten in the UFC?

Edmen Shahbazyan holds notable UFC wins over Andre Petroski, Andre Muniz, Jack Hermansson, Brad Tavares and Jack Marshman.