Niko Price Returns From Retirement With First-Round TKO of Leon Shahbazyan

Niko Price successfully returned to the Octagon at UFC Vegas 122 on Saturday, October 10, 2026, securing a statement victory over welterweight prospect Leon Shahbazyan. The bout, held at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, ended in a first-round TKO victory for the returning veteran.

Price, who had previously announced his retirement following a submission defeat, showed no signs of ring rust as he pressured Shahbazyan early in the contest. The fight concluded decisively after Price landed a series of punches that forced the referee to intervene, handing Shahbazyan a brutal knockout loss and marking a successful comeback for Price.

The performance serves as a significant turn for Price, who had stepped away from the sport but returned to action on the Paramount+ broadcasted card. His ability to dispatch a younger prospect like Shahbazyan in under one round suggests he remains a dangerous threat in the welterweight division despite his brief hiatus from professional competition.

Source: MMA Mania.