Rousey Rousey tossed around UFC middleweight like a ragdoll when he was 15-year-old MMA prodigy
02/13/2025 07:46 AM
Edmen Shahbazyan’s introduction to MMA fans was through Ronda Rousey.
Before ‘Rowdy’ made her promotional debut against Liz Carmouche at UFC 157 in 2013, she put on a show for media and fans during an open workout where she demonstrated her Olympic-level grappling skills.
Ronda Rousey used members of her team as training dummies during the 30-minute training session.
Edmen Shahbazyan, who was 15 years old at the time, was the unlucky soul sent flying multiple times by the judo queen.
Ronda Rousey introduced Edmen Shahbazyan to the MMA world
Countless cameras captured Rousey hurling Shahbazyan through the air like it was nothing.
The footage was worthless until Shahbazyan grew up to become one of the UFC’s hottest prospects.
The 27-year-old followed in Rousey’s footsteps by beginning his MMA career with 11 straight wins.
However, he was unable to go 12-0 as the WMMA pioneer did before getting knocked out by Holly Holm.
Derek Brunson TKO’d Shahbazyan to start a three-fight losing streak that left his UFC career hanging in the balance – but those defeats have aged well as two of them came against long-time contender Jack Hermansson and Israel Adesanya conqueror, Nassourdine Imavov.
Since then, Shahbazyan has gone 2-2 in the Octagon. Most recently, Shahbazyan suffered an arm triangle submission defeat against Gerald Meerschaert in August 2024 and fell to 17-5 as a pro-MMA fighter.
He’ll look to get back in the win column against Dylan Budka at UFC Vegas 102 on Saturday night.
Edmen Shazbazyan assembles new team
Amid his three-fight skid, Shahbazyan parted ways with Rousey, who was his manager up until 2022.
‘The Golden Boy’ linked up with Ali Abdelaziz, who guided Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Hall of Fame career.
Shahbazyan also changed up his training team after working with Rousey’s coach, Edmond Tarverdyan, for years.
Today, he trains at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas under Eric Nicksick, who has seemingly lost his place in Sean Strickland’s corner for slamming his performance against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312 last weekend.
"I needed to change," Shahbazyan told MMA Fighting in May 2022. “It was time. It was definitely time for me. It could have been done sooner but now I'm just happy to be here and get the new work in.
“I have not talked [to them] since I left. From my end, I have a good relationship [with them]. I don't have any problem. All respect cause I respect what they've done for me but on my end, I'm good."
"I haven't talked to [Ronda] in say a few months. I don't have anything against her, respect from my end. As far as my end, I don't have no ill will."
Almost three years later, Shahbazyan is still failing to live up to the hype that made him a hot prospect.
Still, he’s on the right side of 30 and has plenty of time to put himself in the title picture at 185lbs by beating Budka at UFC Vegas 102 and starting a winning streak that proves his doubters wrong.
