Edmen Shahbazyan (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

As Edmen Shahbazyan gets set to face Derek Brunson this Saturday at UFC Vegas 5, the rising middleweight says he plans to become the youngest champ in UFC history.

Since the Armenian-American fighter joined the UFC in 2018, Shahbazyan (11-0) has gone 4-0. Heading into Saturday’s bout, Shahbazyan is ranked #9 and Brunson is #8.

While talking to MMA Fighting recently, ‘The Golden Boy’ outlined his plan to become the youngest champion in the promotion’s history.

“I know being the youngest champion is at 23 years and 8 months by Jon Jones,” Shahbazyan said. “I turn 23 in November and then I have eight months after that. That leaves me until July of next year.

“That’s a good amount of time for me to reach my goal of being champion. That’s one year from now, and I believe the way I’m going with a couple more wins, it will put me in that position to make that goal into reality.”

On Saturday, Shahbazyan will be fighting for the first time since November, when he KO’d Brad Tavares. Brunson (20-7), meanwhile, is coming off a decision win over Ian Heinisch last August, and 3-2 in his last 5 bouts.

Jones won the UFC’s light-heavyweight title back in March, 2011, by stopping ‘Shogun’ Rua.

UFC Vegas 5 will be hosted by the Apex Facility in Las Vegas.