UFC Fight Night: Derek Brunson vs. Edmen Shahbazyan Betting Guide (2020)

The UFC was one of the very first leagues (the first in the U.S.) to restart during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, 12 events have come and gone. What started in Jacksonville, Fla. in early May then moved to Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates for four events at “Fight Island.”

The UFC returns to its APEX facility in Las Vegas this weekend. While their future locations remain uncertain, the fights themselves don’t.

In the company’s fifth fight night in the last two weeks, UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan is headlined by two middleweights with title shot aspirations. A win for either in this one will bring them closer to a shot at current champ Israel Adesanya in a crowded top half of the division.

Let’s take a closer look at the main event of the evening to spot an edge.

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 Derek Brunson (20-7-0) vs. Edmen Shahbazyan (11-0-0)

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Standing at six-foot-two and coming in at the young age of 22, Edmen Shahbazyan is one of the most promising up-and-comers in the UFC. Since joining the UFC by way of winning the Ultimate Fighter in 2018, Shahbazyan has won this three straight Pay-Per-View events decisively in the first round.

We last saw him in the octagon back in November, and he earned a first-round KO by way of a head kick against Brad Tavares. Currently ranked No. 9 in the middleweight division, Shahbazyan has just 11 professional fights to his name, mostly against scrubs. So while he’s talented, he’ll face a significant step up in competition when Saturday night’s opening bell goes off.

Shahbazyan faces a well-known veteran of the sport: Derek Brunson. Brunson joined the company in December 2012, and he has had an up-and-down career. He’s beaten Chris Lebe, Lyoto Machida, Uriah Hall,  but he has no title attempts to his name. At 36 years old and currently ranked No. 8 in a super talented division, most would argue this his last remotely legitimate run at one.

The last two times we saw him fight both ended in decision wins. Most recently, he beat Ian Heinisch last summer.

In this one, the writing is pretty much on the wall that Shahbazyan is the future of the division. This fight is largely a stepping stone to that end. That said, I think Brunson’s experience and takedown defense will at least get him through the second round. He may get chocked or knocked out shortly thereafter, but playing the over 1.5 rounds (+112) will ensure you make a profit.

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TJ Perun is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from TJ, check out his archive and follow him @JohnnyCovers.