TLDR
- Niko Price defeated Leon Shahbazyan by first-round TKO at UFC Vegas 122 in Las Vegas
- Price came out of retirement after losing to Michael Chiesa by submission in May 2025
- The finish came at 4:47 of round one via ground-and-pound punches
- Price’s last victory before this was a decision win over Alex Morono in 2024
- Price did not commit to either retiring again or continuing his UFC career after the win
Sources: middleeasy.com | mmamania.com
Niko Price came out of retirement and finished Leon Shahbazyan with a first-round TKO at UFC Vegas 122 on Saturday night. The fight took place at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Price had announced his retirement after losing to Michael Chiesa by submission in May 2025. But when UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby called with an opportunity, Price decided to return to the octagon.
🚨BISPING TO NIKO PRICE: “THAT'S YOUR RETIREMENT FIGHT?” 🤣😭
🗣️ Niko Price: “If you guys call me, I might answer… Wait, wait, Shelby!” 🤣🤣
🗣️ Bisping: “So you're NOT retiring?”
🗣️ Niko Price: “You never know…” 👀😂#UFCVegas122 pic.twitter.com/k3Wpfv4clv
— FightLuck (@FightluckBet) October 10, 2026
Price Dominates From the Opening Bell
The 37-year-old veteran wasted no time closing the distance on his younger opponent. Price connected with several solid punches along the cage before taking Shahbazyan to the ground.
Once on top, Price had to defend against submission attempts from the bottom. He successfully avoided danger and began landing heavy ground-and-pound strikes.
The punishment proved too much for Shahbazyan. The referee stopped the fight in the first round as Price landed a series of unanswered punches from top position.
Shahbazyan had struggled in his UFC debut earlier this year, looking inexperienced in his first octagon appearance. The matchup appeared favorable for Price despite his time away from competition.
Price’s last win came against Alex Morono by decision in 2024. That made this victory his first in over two years.
Future Remains Unclear
After the fight, Price did not commit to continuing his UFC career. He also did not announce a second retirement, leaving his future in the sport uncertain.
The finish came at 4:47 of the first round. Price used elbows and punches to overwhelm Shahbazyan once he established top control.
Price has been competing in the UFC since 2016. He has built a reputation for exciting fights and has earned multiple performance bonuses throughout his career.
The welterweight division has evolved considerably since Price first entered the promotion. Many new prospects have emerged while Price dealt with a mix of wins and losses.
Shahbazyan entered the fight hoping to bounce back from his disappointing debut. Instead, he suffered another loss that raises questions about his readiness for UFC competition.
Price showed he still possesses knockout power despite his time away. His striking and ground-and-pound both looked sharp against Shahbazyan.
The veteran fighter now holds a professional record that includes 15 wins. His aggressive fighting style has made him a fan favorite over the years.
Whether this performance serves as a swan song or the start of another run remains to be seen. Price has not indicated which direction he plans to take his career.
The UFC Vegas 122 card aired live on Paramount+. Price’s finish was one of the quickest stoppages on the entire event.
Fans and analysts will now wait to see if Price decides to hang up his gloves for good or continue fighting. The decisive nature of his victory gives him options either way.
