UFC Fight Night: Niko Price vs Leon Shahbazyan Preview & Prediction

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Old school legend Niko Price walks out for the final time, as he looks to get the send-off he was denied by taking on submission specialist Leon Shahbazyan at welterweight.

Niko Price vs Leon Shahbazyan facts

What time are Niko Price and Leon Shahbazyan expected to walk out? 11 October 2026 at 12:10 am

Where is UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Duncan? Meta Apex, Enterprise, USA

Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Duncan? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 290

What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Duncan on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount

Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Duncan? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass

UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Duncan main card

Brendan Allen vs Christian Leroy Duncan (Middleweight)

Matheus Camilo vs Jai Herbert (Lightweight)

Loopy Godinez vs Ketlen Souza (Women's Strawweight)

Andre Fili vs Kai Kamaka III (Featherweight)

Malcolm Wellmaker vs Otari Tanzilovi (Bantamweight)

UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Duncan prelims

Julius Walker vs Gerald Meerschaert (Light Heavyweight)

Francisco Prado vs Ismael Bonfim (Lightweight)

Niko Price vs Leon Shahbazyan (Welterweight)

Felipe Franco vs Brendson Ribeiro (Light Heavyweight)

Allen Frye Jr. vs RJ Harris (Heavyweight)

Alice Pereira vs Darya Zheleznyakova (Women's Bantamweight)

Ernesta Kareckaite vs Melissa Gatto (Women's Flyweight)

Niko Price: “The Hybrid” gets the farewell he was denied in Seattle

Niko Price (16-11, 2 NC) thought he’d already had his last dance when Michael Chiesa choked him out in the first round in March, only for Chiesa’s hometown send-off to steal the spotlight. Now the UFC have offered him a proper goodbye. Once one of the most chaotic action fighters on the roster, Price now arrives on a four-fight skid. His reactions have unfortunately slowed, his footwork is more stationary and he relies on winging, looping overhands, while his once-dangerous jiu jitsu now sees him sit too long in guard taking damage.

Leon Shahbazyan: “S.O.G” looks for his first UFC win

Leon Shahbazyan (12-5) finally made it to the UFC in June, but his short notice debut didn’t even last a minute as Levan Chokheli finished him in the opening exchange. It wasn’t the first time he’s been stopped, and durability remains his biggest concern. On the ground it’s a different story, nearly all of his wins have come by submission, with the guillotine as his signature weapon, and he’s dangerous even off his back. On the feet he relies on his length, sticking behind straight shots and long, light kicks, but offers little head movement.

Niko Price vs Leon Shahbazyan prediction

Seeing as this should be Price’s real last walk, expect him to empty the tank. He’s always wanted to drag opponents into a phone-booth brawl, and against a fighter who tends to start slowly, a higher pace than usual could catch Shahbazyan stuck in the mud. Shahbazyan leans on his range rather than proper striking defence, and those looping overhands have a real chance of finding the chin of a man who was finished in 23 seconds last time out.

That said, Price doesn’t move his head much either, so Shahbazyan’s straight shots will land as he comes forward. The bigger danger is on the mat. Price has been choked out in two of his last four, and the close-quarters brawl he wants could end up with Shahbazyan snatching up a sneaky stand-up guillotine.

Still it’s hard to look past Shahbazyan’s durability. Price doesn’t possess the most power but it should be enough to put away a fighter this fragile. With a proper send-off on the line, I think the vet finds one last highlight before hanging up the gloves.

Prediction: Niko Price to win inside the distance