This weekend, the UFC Apex in Las Vegas will stage a compelling matchup between two fighters with divergent paths in their careers, Edmen Shahbazyan and Dylan Budka. Their featherweight bout is set for Saturday, February 15, during UFC Fight Night 251. While the fight marks an essential milestone for both athletes, it also highlights the contrasting stakes that they face.
Shahbazyan, a seasoned contender with a mixed martial arts record of 13 wins and 5 losses (6-5 in the UFC), stands at a pivotal juncture following a recent setback. The 27-year-old middleweight was dealt a crushing blow when he succumbed to a submission loss against Gerald Meerschaert last August. This defeat interrupted a previous run of form where he had showcased his finishing capabilities, notably stopping AJ Dobson in the first round in March. As he prepares to return to the octagon, Shahbazyan is now on a mission to regain his footing, hoping to transform past mistakes into lessons for his future endeavors.
On the other side of the cage is Dylan Budka, who enters the bout with a record of 7 wins and 4 losses (0-2 in the UFC). Budka finds himself in a precarious position; his future in the UFC may hinge on this fight after experiencing losses in both of his previous outings. Having tasted victory on Dana White’s Contender Series last September with a unanimous decision over Chad Hanekom, Budka’s transition to the UFC has been less than ideal. Consecutive defeats, including a second-round stoppage by Cesar Almeida and a unanimous decision loss to Andre Petroski, have left him searching for answers and a breakthrough in the promotion.
The betting landscape favors Shahbazyan, with odds showing him at -385 against Budka’s +290 on FanDuel. These numbers reflect the general expectation that Shahbazyan, with more experience and a more established career in the UFC, has the upper hand going into the bout. However, as any intelligent MMA fan knows, fights are not won on paper—and the unpredictability of the sport often leads to surprising outcomes.
Budka’s need for a decisive victory might just fuel his determination, as he aims to prove the doubters wrong and secure his place in the promotion. Meanwhile, Shahbazyan needs to consolidate his skills, shaking off the burden of past losses to reaffirm why he was once seen as a rising star in his weight class. The pressure will be palpable as they make their way to the cage, with their bout scheduled to commence at around 8:10 p.m. ET, streaming live on ESPN+.
As UFC Fight Night 251 approaches, the matchup between Shahbazyan and Budka promises to be more than just a contest of physical ability. It’s a narrative infused with aspirations, pressures, and a critical examination of what it means to succeed in one of the most challenging sports on the planet. Will Shahbazyan reclaim his status as a formidable competitor, or will Budka rise from the ashes to secure his first UFC win? The octagon awaits this intriguing showdown.