Niko Price’s UFC return extends a high-variance finishing profile against Leon Shahbazyan

Niko Price’s retirement lasted less than one full UFC scheduling cycle.

Bloody Elbow reported that Price will return against Leon Shahbazyan at UFC Vegas 122 on October 10 after announcing his retirement in March; the outlet also reported that Shahbazyan is 0-1 in the UFC after being stopped 23 seconds into his promotional debut and that both fighters shared bout graphics on social media.

The return adds another fight to a UFC résumé already defined by volatility. Price has eight wins and 11 losses across 21 archived UFC bouts, with two no contests reflected in his overall 16-11 record. Six of those eight UFC wins came by knockout, technical knockout or submission. He has also been finished nine times.

That history matters more to bettors than the retirement reversal by itself. Price is not returning from an extended period of inactivity: he last competed 166 days ago. The relevant question is whether the same offensive ambition and defensive exposure that shaped his previous run will still determine his fights at age 36.

Price’s output has always carried defensive cost

Price has landed 5.11 significant strikes per minute over his UFC career, but he has absorbed 5.57. His 43 percent striking accuracy sits alongside 48 percent striking defence, creating a profile built around exchanges rather than clean risk management.

The round-level totals sharpen that picture. Across 41 rounds with data, Price landed 870 significant strikes and scored five knockdowns. He directed 533 of those strikes to the head, 143 to the body and 194 to the legs. That is enough target diversity to prevent opponents from defending one narrow attack, but the overall exchange rate has still run against him.