Former Hoover High wrestler Edmen Shahbazyan made a big return to the spotlight on Saturday night, earning a dramatic first-round knockout victory over André Muniz at UFC 320 in Las Vegas.

The fight started cautiously, with both fighters exchanging short strikes and testing each other’s distance. Muniz tried to bring the fight to the ground, but Shahbazyan defended the takedown and countered with sharp punches.

As the round came to a close, Shahbazyan turned up the pressure. With just two seconds left in the first round, he landed a clean left hand that dropped Muniz. Shahbazyan quickly followed with ground strikes, forcing the referee to stop the fight at 4:58 of the round.

The victory improved Shahbazyan’s professional record to 16-5, marking his third straight win inside the octagon. The fight was featured on the main card of UFC 320, which took place at the T-Mobile Arena.
Before becoming a professional fighter, Shahbazyan attended Herbert Hoover High School, where he wrestled and qualified for the CIF State Wrestling Championships his senior year in 2015.

During his time at Hoover, Shahbazyan was recognized for his exceptional work ethic and wrestling skills, which later laid the foundation for his successful MMA career.