Nassourdine Imavov Vs. Edmen Shahbazyan Likely To Feature In UFC 268

UFC 268 is likely to include a middleweight showdown between Dagestan’s Nassourdine Imavov (10-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) and Edmen Shahbazyan (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC), according to sources.

The UFC hasn’t yet made the fight official, but the organization is expected to make a public announcement soon. The event will go down on November 6 and is targeted for Madison Square Garden in New York. UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington will feature in the main event.

In his last UFC fight in July, Imavov notched the biggest win of his career as he knocked out Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Ian Heinisch in only the second round.

Five of Imavov’s last seven victories have come off via stoppage.

Shahbazyan’s story has been a tad different.

Starting his MMA career on a roll, the 23-year-old has suffered two consecutive losses in the UFC. He lost to Jack Hermansson in his last fight in May after Derek Brunson knocked him out cold in August 2020.

Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje are also going to be part of UFC 268.

Both lightweight stars have gone back and forth, exchanging barbs on social media and live interviews. Gaethje has had an aggressive approach to the former Bellator star after Chandler claimed that he ducked fighting him three times.