The Weasle forecasted Andre Petroski winning an uneventful decision over Edmen Shahbazyan by leaning on one takedown per round and heavy top pressure. Petroski’s wrestling first style has already produced victories despite microscopic output—only 23 significant strikes across three rounds versus Dylan Budka and just 12 against Josh Fremd—yet his control time keeps judges happy. Shahbazyan’s striking is levels above Petroski’s, but his takedown defense has crumbled against Derek Brunson, Jack Hermansson and Anthony Hernandez, each logging lengthy spells of control. The analyst admitted that if Edmen stuffs entries he likely scores a knockout, because Petroski is hittable and lacks volume standing. Still, he expects Petroski to grind from half-guard, land enough pitter-patter to avoid stand-ups and squeak out 29-28 scorecards.

Gumby Vreeland jumped on Andre Petroski at +165, calling it a gift price given Edmund Shabazian’s long-running defensive-grappling issues. Vreeland reminded listeners that Shabazian was drowned by Gerald Meerschaert in Round 2 just three months ago, and Petroski brings the same relentless takedown game—only with heavier top-control ground-and-pound and more knockout power on the feet. He expects Petroski’s Division-I wrestling to put Shabazian on his back early and often, exacerbating Shabazian’s well-documented cardio fades. Even if the striking is competitive, Petroski’s “throws-hard-enough-to-keep-you-honest” hands should open level changes. Meanwhile, Shabazian has been finished in four of his five UFC losses and has never strung together back-to-back wins when the promotion gives him a grappling-centric opponent. Vreeland forecasted a Petroski finish or dominant decision and advised taking the plus-money outright before market correction.

THE MMA GURU predicted Andre Petroski will survive Edmen Shahbazyan’s early burst, then drown him with chain wrestling and tap him with an arm-triangle in round three. Guru conceded Shahbazyan is the ‘better martial artist’—sharper boxing, faster hands, more pop—but said that hardly matters if Petroski forces takedown scrambles every 30 seconds. Shahbazyan has gassed and made fatal grappling errors against Gerald Meerschaert and others, whereas Petroski toughed out bad spots versus the same Meerschaert and reclaimed top position. Even though Petroski has been knocked out by “an imaginary hip” (a freak body-shot KO) and flash-finished by Michel Pereira, Guru believes a relentless double-leg template will expose Edmen’s cardio cliff again. The betting takeaway: play Petroski submission props or Petroski Round 3 at plus money instead of the pick ’em moneyline.

Madlab said he is backing Andre Petroski at +155 in a classic dog-or-pass spot. He framed Edmen Shabazyan as a kill-or-be-killed front-runner whose cardio predictably falls off after a round and a half—a flaw that Gerald Meerschaert exploited after being knocked down multiple times. Petroski, meanwhile, has acknowledged his own gas-tank issues, slimmed down some muscle, and learned to pace himself, resulting in three straight decision victories. Madlab expects the Penn wrestler to weather Shabazyan’s early storm, then chain takedowns, pile up top-control and either grind out a decision or find a late finish once Shabazyan is spent. Because virtually every winning scenario for Petroski happens after the 7-minute mark, Madlab believes the line should be closer to pick’em and is happy to grab the plus money on the more durable, better-conditioned fighter.