Edmen Shahbazyan (photo via YouTube)

By FCF Staff

After taking out Brad Tavares at UFC 244, Edmen Shahbazyan has the attention of middleweight champ, Israel Adesanya.

Shahbazyan finished the veteran in the first round with a head kick, and in doing so, the 22 year-old moved his MMA record to 11-0. It was Shahbazyan’s fourth UFC win.

Recently Adesanya appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast, and while discussing Shahbazyan, the highlight reel striker said this (quotes via MMA Junkie):

“I saw his fight,” Adesanya said. “I didn’t know who he was until (my manager) told me. Then I rewatched his fight. He hit Brad Tavares with the head kick and that kind of got my attention, like, ‘Oh (expletive), who is this kid?’ At 185, he’s 22. He’s on the come-up. I played with Brad for five rounds. He starched him in one round. I’m not taking that lightly.”

“I look at that kid – eventually when he comes up I’m sure I’ll see him at some point,” Adesanya said. “I need to get back to work. I’m working, but I’ve got the FOMO.”

Adesanya (18-0), meanwhile, is waiting to see who he faces next, after he unified the 185 titles in October by stopping Robert Whittaker.