Niko Price Set for Second Retirement Fight After UFC Seattle Snub

The veteran welterweight last tasted victory in 2024, beating Alex Morono at UFC 302. Since then, “The Hybrid” has dropped three straight, the latest coming via a brutal TKO in February.

Price seemingly called time on his career after his retirement bout against Michael Chiesa at UFC Seattle. While “The Maverick” got the storybook farewell, complete with a win, microphone, and a tribute package from the UFC, Price was left without a moment of his own, and perhaps wondering what could have been.

 Now, he is returning to action for a second, and final, walk to the octagon next month at UFC Vegas 122. Price seemingly called time on his career that night at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. He took off his gloves inside the Octagon, just as Chiesa did, with both veterans entering the fight expecting it to be their final appearance under the UFC banner.

Only Chiesa got the farewell. The 38-year-old was treated to a full video package and a moment with the microphone after securing a storybook submission victory. Price, meanwhile, never got his own moment in the spotlight. Despite later claiming that he had been promised a post-fight interview, the night belonged entirely to Chiesa. Now, Price is getting another chance to say goodbye.

Niko Price is Getting One More Walk to the Octagon

According to various reports, Price (16-11-0, 2 NC) will return to the UFC Octagon to face Leon Shahbazyan at UFC Vegas 122 on October 10. The event will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, headlined by a middleweight matchup between Brendan Allen and Christian Leroy Duncan.

In hindsight, in Price's case, it is a surprising return for a fighter who appeared to have already made his decision. Price had spent more than a decade competing for the UFC after making his promotional debut at UFC 207 in 2016.

A Real Farewell for Niko Price 

Along the way, he became one of the promotion’s most recognizable action fighters, producing memorable finishes over names such as Randy Brown, Alan Jouban, and Tim Means. His most recent win came against Morono at UFC 302. Since then, however, things have gone downhill quickly. Price entered the Chiesa fight having lost three straight, and the submission loss in Seattle made it four in a row.

Still, there was something unsatisfying about seeing a fighter with 21 UFC appearances walk away without getting the kind of farewell that normally accompanies a veteran’s final bout.

Price himself made his frustration known after Seattle. Former two-division champion Daniel Cormier explained that he chose not to interview Price because it did not feel appropriate immediately after Chiesa’s retirement. 

Leon Shahbazyan Stands Between Price and His Final Fight

Standing opposite him will be Leon Shahbazyan, the younger brother of UFC middleweight veteran Edmen Shahbazyan. The younger Shahbazyan, who made his promotional debut in June, is still searching for his first UFC win after being stopped by Levan Chokheli in just 23 seconds, leaving him 0-1 inside the Octagon.

Before his UFC chapter, "S.O.G" had put together four consecutive victories under the Tuff-N-Uff banner, but his debut exposed just how steep the jump to the UFC can be. That makes the upcoming bout an interesting assignment for Price.

While both fighters are looking to rebound, on paper, the upcoming fight gives Price a chance to finish his UFC career on his own terms. Nevertheless, regardless of the result, this fight gives him something he did not get in Seattle: a chance to have the spotlight on him.