Edmen Shahbazyan defeats Brunno Ferreira by unanimous decision at UFC 331

Edmen Shahbazyan snapped a losing streak and moved back into the win column at UFC 331 on September 19, 2026, defeating Brunno Ferreira by unanimous decision in their middleweight bout.

Shahbazyan, known as "The Golden Boy," improved his professional record to 17-6 with the victory. The 28-year-old American, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and brings a well-rounded offensive game to the cage, averaging 3.8 significant strikes landed per minute along with 1.62 takedowns per 15 minutes. The win is a meaningful rebound for Shahbazyan, who had been on the back foot following a loss to Brendan Allen in his previous outing.

Ferreira, the Brazilian slugger nicknamed "The Hulk," falls to 15-4 with the defeat and has now dropped three straight, having previously lost to Alaskarov and Gregory Rodrigues. The 33-year-old orthodox fighter out of Brazilian TKO carries a 72-inch reach and has shown consistent output throughout his career, landing 3.77 significant strikes per minute at a 50-percent striking accuracy. Despite those numbers, he was unable to find the finish or secure enough work over the course of the fight to sway the judges.

Why it matters

• Shahbazyan's victory halts his skid and keeps him relevant in a crowded middleweight division where momentum is difficult to rebuild.
• Ferreira's third consecutive loss raises serious questions about his standing in the 185-pound rankings and may prompt a reassessment of his trajectory.
• The decision result suggests a competitive, grinding contest between two orthodox strikers with similar output rates, making the judges' scorecards the decisive factor.