Armenian-American Edmen Shahbazyan to Face Brunno Ferreira at UFC 331 in Los Angeles

Armenian-American middleweight Edmen Shahbazyan will return to the Octagon on Sept. 19 when he faces Brazil's Brunno Ferreira at UFC 331 in Los Angeles.

The fight, first reported by MMA Fighting, will take place at Crypto.com Arena. The promotion has not yet announced the card's main event.

For Shahbazyan, the matchup represents another opportunity to reestablish himself as a contender in the UFC's competitive middleweight division. The 28-year-old enters the fight with a 16-6 professional record after falling by unanimous decision to Brendan Allen in June. Although the loss snapped a three-fight winning streak, the bout earned Fight of the Night honors and showcased Shahbazyan's ability to compete with the division's top names.

Born and raised in Glendale, California, Shahbazyan is one of the UFC's most recognizable fighters of Armenian descent. He burst onto the UFC scene after earning a contract through Dana White's Contender Series and quickly gained attention as one of the promotion's brightest young prospects. Known for his aggressive striking and finishing ability, he has recorded 13 knockout victories and has ended 13 fights in the opening round. Throughout his career, Shahbazyan has openly embraced his Armenian heritage and has drawn strong support from Armenian fans around the world.

Before his loss to Allen, Shahbazyan had rebuilt his career with victories over Andre Muniz, Andre Petroski and Dylan Budka, putting together a three-fight winning streak that revived his standing in the division.

Ferreira enters the contest looking to end a difficult stretch of his own. The Brazilian compiled three straight wins in 2025, including a victory over former title challenger Marvin Vettori, before suffering back-to-back losses this year against Gregory Rodrigues and Ikram Aliskerov.

With both fighters coming off defeats, the Sept. 19 showdown carries significant stakes. A win would put either man back on track in the crowded middleweight division and strengthen his case for bigger opportunities later this year.

UFC 331 is expected to feature several matchups between Brazilian athletes and international opponents, with Shahbazyan's clash against Ferreira becoming one of the latest additions to the Los Angeles card.

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