Niko Price Gets UFC Farewell Fight Against Leon Shahbazyan at UFC Vegas 122
Niko Price will return from retirement to face Leon Shahbazyan on the UFC Vegas 122 prelims at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. Price says UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby…
Niko Price will face leon shahbazyan on the UFC Vegas 122 prelims at Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, in a bout the veteran says will be his final fight. The matchup gives Price another chance to receive the farewell he says he missed when he announced his retirement in Seattle.
Price retired earlier this year after facing Michael Chiesa, but Chiesa was also retiring that night and received most of the broadcast attention, according to the report. UFC matchmakers later offered Price another fight, which he accepted.
“They were like, 'Would you like a proper retirement?' And I was like, 'Heck yeah, that sounds like fun. I'll take another fight,'” Price told Home of Fight.
The fight is scheduled for the UFC Vegas 122 prelims on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at Meta Apex. Price enters after four consecutive defeats; Shahbazyan is coming off a 23-second TKO loss in his UFC debut.
Price says UFC offered a proper farewell
Price said UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby wanted to speak with him after Price’s retirement announcement surprised him. Price said he had only agreed to return if UFC approached him with a specific fight offer.
“That's exactly what they said, word for word, and to me, that was God speaking,” Price said, describing the offer.
His original goodbye came during fight week in Seattle, when he said he planned to retire after facing Chiesa. The broadcast focused largely on Chiesa’s own retirement, leaving Price’s announcement overlooked, the report said.
The new booking changes the stakes for Price: the fight is not just another appearance, but an opportunity to stage the farewell he says he wanted. For fans watching the prelims, the bout also carries uncertainty over whether the veteran’s retirement will hold.
Price said he feels accomplished and plans to end his career after this bout, though he left room for an exceptional offer. “If a golden nugget comes up, you can't turn down a golden nugget. It's as simple as that,” he said.
Leon Shahbazyan faces a veteran returning from retirement
Shahbazyan’s UFC debut ended in a 23-second TKO loss to Levan Chokheli in June, according to the prediction report. Before that setback, he had submitted Robert Hale with a first-round armbar in March and extended his winning streak to four.
Price has a 16-11 record and is on a four-fight losing streak. He has suffered first-round stoppage losses in each of his last two appearances and is 2-6 across his previous eight fights, the report said.
The matchup puts Shahbazyan against an experienced opponent with a recent run of defeats, while Price faces a fighter seeking to recover from a difficult promotional debut. The reports present contrasting routes: Price’s striking and experience against Shahbazyan’s submission threat.
Price said he would not return for another ordinary opportunity. His next bout, against Shahbazyan, is the one he plans to make his last.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
