Brunson vs. Shahbazyan: How to watch and stream, plus full analysis

Jul 27, 2020

Edmen Shahbazyan, 22 years old and undefeated, will get his first big test on Saturday when he faces veteran middleweight Derek Brunson in the main event of UFC Fight Night at the promotion’s Apex facility in Las Vegas.

The fight was moved to the top of the bill from the co-main event spot last week after the original headliner, Holly Holm vs. Irene Aldana, was canceled following the withdrawal of Aldana due to a positive test for coronavirus.

The fights are on ESPN+, with the main card starting at 9 p.m. ET and the prelims at 6 p.m.

Shahbazyan (11-0, 4-0 in the UFC) has had finishes in his last three UFC victories, most recently a first-round head-kick knockout of Brad Tavares in November.

Brunson (20-7, 11-5 UFC) has not fought since last August’s decision victory over Ian Heinisch, his second win in a row.

The new co-main event is a matchup of top-10 female flyweights. Joanne Calderwood, No. 4 in ESPN’s divisional rankings, will face ninth-ranked Jennifer Maia. Calderwood, who had been penciled in for a challenge of Valentina Shevchenko until the champion had to postpone the fight because of a leg injury, was brought in as a short-notice replacement for Maia’s original opponent, Viviane Araujo.