Preview: UFC Fight Night 188 ‘Font vs. Garbrandt’

Middleweights

#7 MW | Jack Hermansson (21-6, 8-4 UFC) vs. #10 MW | Edmen Shahbazyan (11-1, 4-1 UFC)

ODDS: Hermansson (-155), Shahbazyan (+135)

Even after a disheartening loss, Shahbazyan remains one of the UFC’s top middleweight prospects, but he now finds himself in a tough spot. Shahbazyan did not have a particularly impressive resume heading into his 2018 bout on Dana White’s Contender Series. Up to that point, “The Golden Boy” had spent his pro career running over the lowest possible level of opposition. However, it quickly became apparent that there was some legitimate craft to Shahbazyan’s offensive arsenal, and he kept racking up first-round knockouts in his run up the UFC’s middleweight ladder. Darren Stewart was the only man to make it past the first frame against Shahbazyan, and even then, the Glendale Fighting Club export showed the ability to mix things up and focus on his wrestling as a fallback plan. However, all of Shahbazyan’s momentum came to a sudden end against Derek Brunson in a main event bout in August. Having turned the mental corner, Brunson was able to survive Shahbazyan’s initial barrage and wear him out on route to a third-round stoppage. Clearly, the Brunson fight showed that while Shahbazyan has plenty of interesting and effective tools, he could also use a step back in competition to help work things out. Instead, he gets what might be an even tougher fight against Hermansson.

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Hermansson’s UFC career did not get off to the hottest start. Losses to Cezar Ferreira and Thiago Santos in his first five UFC fights suggested that “The Joker” would slot firmly into the 185-pound midcard. After the Santos loss, Hermansson suddenly found a groove that led him to middleweight contender status. Hermansson had flashed some effective striking and a brutal ground-and-pound game early in his UFC career, but at some point, it became apparent that he was one of the best grapplers in the division. His 2019 campaign saw him quickly tap David Branch before surviving five rounds on the mat to win a decision against Ronaldo Souza. Since Hermansson has been established as a viable featured fighter, his results have mostly hinged on that wrestling and grappling game. The strength of Jared Cannonier and Marvin Vettori gave Hermansson issues and left him ineffective, but Kelvin Gastelum quickly found himself tapping to a heel hook. Still just 32 years old, there is the chance that Hermansson has one more evolution and run up the ladder left in him, but he will have to turn Shahbazyan away first.

Shahbazyan has a chance at victory, but the UFC matchmakers seem to be doing him dirty with this one. Shahbazyan’s rise through the ranks showed that he is a dangerous knockout artist who can effectively pick his spots in the early going, so he is fully capable of sparking Hermansson early in order to get back on track. Beyond that, Hermansson should be able to get his wrestling game going sooner rather than later, and from there, he figures to sap Shahbazyan’s gas tank and take the fight over. A late stoppage or submission is possible, but the pick is Hermansson via decision.

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