LAS VEGAS – Edmen Shahbazyan felt the eyeballs as a 20-year-old entering the UFC. He streaked, was spotlighted, lost, and learned.

A three-fight losing skid from 2020-2021 wasn’t his highest point, but Shahbazyan (12-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) has remained present and improved because of the experiences.

At a UFC Fight Night 224 pre-fight news conference Wednesday, a cool, calm, and collected Shahbazyan smiled through each answer – a grinning anticipation of a fistfight Saturday vs. Anthony Hernandez (10-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) at the UFC Apex.

“At the end of the day, when I step in there, I try to clear my mind from the past and focus on the present,” Shahbazyan told reporters including MMA Junkie. “That’s what I did out there and that’s what I plan to do this Saturday as well. … I just want to go fight by fight one fight at a time, and be the best that I can be. I’m trying to go out there and perform and put on a good fight and show my improvements. I don’t really care about the whole, ‘Oh, it’s Edmen. He’s back. He’s back.’ I’m doing my thing, what I’m capable of and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Shahbazyan entered the UFC as a prodigy off Dana White’s Contender Series due to his age, skill-level, fighting style, and connection to former UFC champion Ronda Rousey.

After four straight wins to kick off his promotional tenure, Shahbazyan went 0-3 against top contenders. The defeats came with vocal doubters, but Shahbazyan is unfazed. In December, he got back on track with a knockout win vs. Dalcha Lungiambula.

“I’m in the UFC to be the best,” Shahbazyan said. “I’m not going to be the same fighter as I was for those losses. I’m obviously going to improve. I’m 25 right now and I’ve been in the UFC since I was 20. I’m going to improve. I’m not just here to be the same fighter as I was and not have this, not have that. I’m going to improve on the skills and be a better fighter every time.

“… I think it’s all going to be a part of my story. If it wasn’t for those losses, I wouldn’t be here in Vegas with a new team, great teammates, great coaches. Everything happens for a reason.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 224.