UFC Fight Night results, highlights: Derek Brunson outworks Edmen Shahbazyan for TKO win in Las Vegas

Brunson broke Shahbazyan down before cutting him up and taking a third round TKO win

Derek Brunson entered his UFC Fight Night main event bout with Edmen Shahbazyan with more fights in the UFC Octagon than his opponents had fights in his entire career. Despite having been in with elite fighters throughout his career, including some of the best middleweights in the history of the sport, Brunson was a considerable underdog facing the undefeated 22-year-old phenom.

In the end, Brunson was able to remind everyone of his quality in a performance that showed grit and a bit of veteran savvy in surviving some early flurries to wear out Shahbazyan and score the TKO finish early in the third round from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas.

Shahbazyan came out of corner for the start of the first round looking for another finish. He had, after all, finished 10 of his 11 career fights in the opening round. The winging power shot attack of Shahbazyan may have ultimately been his undoing, with Brunson able to eat his best shots and come forward landing many of his own and mixing in wrestling when openings presented themselves. Shahbazyan began breathing heavily midway through the second round, with Brunson relentlessly pushing him into the cage, breaking off of grappling exchanges to throw power strikes and then go right back to the wrestling game. He was able to muscle Shahbazyan down multiple times.

Late in Round 2, Brunson landed with some good strikes before scoring another takedown and immediately working a ground-and-pound attack. Shahbazyan gave up position, trying to escape the damage, but ended the round flattened out and eating a massive Brunson elbow and a few follow-up punches before being saved by the bell and trudging back to his corner with blood streaming from a cut above his right eye.

The doctor allowed Shahbazyan to come out for the third round, but it was already over before the round began. Brunson landed a solid punch and scored a takedown. Before he could unload with any significant damage, referee Herb Dean stepped in and waived the fight off, awarding Brunson a big victory that cemented his status as a fringe title contender.

Brunson wasn't in the mood to call out his next opponent after the fight, instead saying it was time to go be with his family after the odd circumstances of fighting during a global pandemic.

"I'm going to get home, chill and enjoy my family," Brunson said after the win. "I miss my family so much, my kids are everything to me. I want to go and kiss my family. But, believe me, I'm going to talk to my coaches and we'll try to get somebody by next week."

The win was Brunson's third victory in a row, moving him to 3-0 since moving to train under Henri Hooft in Florida.

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CBS Sports was with you the entire way on Saturday, updating this story with the latest results, highlights and updates which you can view below. 

UFC Fight Night card results

• Derek Brunson def. Edmen Shabazyan via third-round TKO (strikes)
  
• Jennifer Maia def. Joanne Calderwood via first-round submission (armbar)
  
• Vicente Luque def. Randy Brown via second-round TKO (strikes)
  
• Bobby Green def. Lando Vannata via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
• Jonathan Martinez def. Frankie Saenz via third-round TKO (strikes)
• Nate Maness def. Johnny Munoz via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
• Jamall Emmers def. Vince Cachero via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Chris Gutierrez vs. Cody Durden fight to unanimous draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28)

[Aug 1, 2020 at 11:16 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Official result: Derek Brunson def. Edmen Shahbazyan via TKO, Round 3

[Aug 1, 2020 at 11:15 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Very impressive performance by Brunson, wore down the kid and reminded why he has only lost to elite fighters in the Octagon.

[Aug 1, 2020 at 11:14 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Brunson comes forward and lands punches and Shahbazyan basically lays down and Herb Dean calls off the fight as Brunson steps in to throw more punches.

[Aug 1, 2020 at 11:13 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Round 3 is underway after Shahbazyan gets his cut checked by the doctor.

[Aug 1, 2020 at 11:12 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Brunson drills Shahbazyan with huge ground and pound, opening a massive cut with an elbow before Shahbazyan is saved by the bell.

[Aug 1, 2020 at 11:11 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Shahbazyan gives up the back, then mount and then the back as Brunson is pouring on heavy, heavy damage.

[Aug 1, 2020 at 11:10 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Brunson takes Shahbazyan down and is working ground and pound.

[Aug 1, 2020 at 11:10 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Brunson pushes him into the fence again and lands some big shots. Shahbazyan is starting to breathe very heavy as Brunson pours on the pressure.

[Aug 1, 2020 at 11:09 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Shahbazyan lands another good body kick and a few follow-up shots. Brunson pins him against the cage and unloads with some big strikes and hits a knee to Shahbazyan's face.

[Aug 1, 2020 at 11:09 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Action resumes with Shahbazyan saying he is able to see.

[Aug 1, 2020 at 11:08 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Shahbazyan stops and complains that he was poked in the eye, replays show he is correct and a Brunson finger caught him in the eye.

[Aug 1, 2020 at 11:07 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Brunson landed a solid shot before charging forward and scoring a takedown but Shahbazyan stood and ate a few left hands from Brunson.

[Aug 1, 2020 at 11:06 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Round 2 opens and it's only the second time Shahbazyan has gone past the opening round. Shahbazyan landed a heavy body kick to start the round.

[Aug 1, 2020 at 11:05 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Reminder: This fight was promoted to main event late, so it is three rounds rather than five.

[Aug 1, 2020 at 11:05 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Brunson lands a left hand but Shahbazyan lands an elbow before the bell. Very close round, but I'd give Brunson a slight edge. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Brunson

[Aug 1, 2020 at 11:04 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Shahbazyan misses a punch and eats an elbow from Brunson. Brunson almost gets another takedown but Shahbazyan was able to keep his feet under him.

[Aug 1, 2020 at 11:03 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Shahbazyan unloads with a few big punches and Brunson is forced to get out of punching range and regroup.