| Karo Parisyan Կարո Փարիզյան |
|
|---|---|
| Born | August 28, 1982 Yerevan, Armenian SSR, USSR |
| Other names | The Heat |
| Nationality | Armenian American |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Weight | 170 lb (77.1 kg; 12.1 st) |
| Division | Welterweight (170 lb) |
| Reach | 751⁄2 in (192 cm) |
| Style | Judo, Boxing |
| Fighting out of | North Hollywood, California, U.S. |
| Team | Glendale Fight Club S.K. Golden Boys |
| Rank | black belt in Judo |
| Years active | 1999–present (MMA) |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 28 |
| Wins | 19 |
| By submission | 10 |
| By decision | 9 |
| Losses | 8 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By decision | 4 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Notable relatives | Manvel Gamburyan, cousin |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Karapet Parisyan (Armenian: Կարո Փարիզյան; born August 28, 1982) is an Armenian-American mixed martial artist. From his days as a UFC mainstay Karo holds notable wins over Ryo Chonan, Shonie Carter, Drew Fickett, Matt Serra, Nick Thompson, Chris Lytle, Nick Diaz and Antonio McKee.
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Parisyan was born in Yerevan, Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic. His family migrated to America when he was six years old. Parisyan started training in Judo when he was nine years old under fellow Armenian Gokor Chivichyan.[1] Parisyan stated that his father began taking him to Judo lessons because he beat up on his sisters, and Judo would be an effective outlet for Parisyan to take out his anger.[1] In a book he published, however, Parisyan wrote that his father introduced him to judo to cure his laziness.[2] By age 10, Parisyan was training his Judo under both Chivichyan and Gene LeBell.
For more than thirteen years, Parisyan developed under the Hayastan Grappling System, a style developed by Gokor Chivichyan and Gene LeBell, which blends elements of Judo, Sambo, Catch Wrestling, Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling.[3] Parisyan continued to train at the Hayastan Academy under Gokor and Gene until late 2005.
Parisyan has six Junior National belts to his credit, and competed in the Olympic Judo trials ahead of the 2004 games in Athens. He wrote that going to the Olympics was his dream and that mixed martial arts was only an outlet for his boredom. During the trials, he received a call from UFC management and was invited to compete. He accepted because he needed money. But after the fight against Dave Strasser, his ribs needed recovery so that he decided to give up on the trials.[4]
Parisyan competes as a welterweight and made his UFC debut on September 23, 2003, beating Dave Strasser by kimura. He then went on to win the WEC welterweight title, defeating Shonie Carter. He then returned to the UFC where he won consecutive decision victories over Nick Diaz, Chris Lytle, and Matt Serra. He was widely considered as the top contender for the UFC welterweight title before a loss to Diego Sanchez.
Parisyan lost via TKO to Thiago Alves at UFC Fight Night 13 in the second round. Alves showed good resistance against Parisyan's grappling offense, and finished Parisyan with a knee from the clinch, followed by strikes.
Parisyan was scheduled to fight Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC 88: Breakthrough, but a back injury forced him to drop out of the fight right before the weigh-ins.
After recovering from his back injury, Parisyan returned at UFC 94 on January 31, 2009 in Las Vegas against Kim Dong-hyun.[5] Parisyan defeated Kim in a controversial split decision.[6] Following the fight, Parisyan tested positive for banned painkillers hydrocodone, hydromorphone, and oxymorphone.[7] Parisyan has stated that he has a prescription for the medications due to a severe back / hamstring injury.[8]
Parisyan was suspended pending a full hearing in mid-March.[9] On March 17, 2009, the NSAC suspended Parisyan for nine months and ruled his decision victory a "no contest".[10]
Parisyan was scheduled to fight Dustin Hazelett at UFC 106,[11] but pulled out of the fight on November 19, the day before weigh-ins. UFC President Dana White responded to the situation on his Twitter stating that Parisyan will "not be fighting Saturday or ever again in the UFC!!" White also stated that he had "a laundry list of excuses".[12] Later that day, Neil Melanson, a longtime friend and training partner of Parisyan's, divulged to MMA news site Five Ounces Of Pain that Parisyan has been battling an addiction to painkillers dating back to an injury suffered while training for a fight.[13]
Karo Parisyan entered into talks with Strikeforce, looking to continue his mixed martial arts career in the USA, but they proved unsuccessful.[14]
Parisyan's return fight had taken place on July 10, 2010 for Impact FC 1 in which he was formerly scheduled to fight Luis Dutra Jr., but Dutra would end up being forced off the card with a torn biceps. Parisyan's new opponent was then scheduled to be Ben Mortimer who Parisyan would go on to defeat via rear-naked choke at 4:18 of the second round.
On September 2, 2010, it was announced that Karo will be returning to the UFC. He faced Dennis Hallman at UFC 123 in November.[15] Hallman defeated Parisyan via TKO (punches) at 1:47 of round 1. In a discussion with journalist Ariel Helwani following UFC 123, UFC President Dana White stated he believes Parisyan is through fighting in the UFC.[16]
Karo fought highly touted Canadian prospect Ryan Ford on May 19, 2011 in the MMA Live 1 show in London, Ontario, Canada.[17] He was able to neutralize Ford's strength and power by applying his takedowns, as it seemed that the first and second rounds would lean in favor of Parisyan, but was caught in the third round by a vicious knee to the head which resulted in a cut over Karo's left eye that would end the fight via TKO due to a Doctor's Stoppage.
Parisyan fought Jordan Smith on September 14 in Brazil, Amazon Forest Combat 1. After a long hard battle going the distance, Parisyan came up short, losing the fight by split decision.
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Wrestling Observer Newsletter
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 28 matches | 19 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 0 | 4 |
| By submission | 10 | 0 |
| By decision | 9 | 4 |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 19–8 (1) | Jordan Smith | Decision (split) | Amazon Forest Combat | September 14, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Manaus, Brazil | |
| Loss | 19–7 (1) | Ryan Ford | TKO (cut) | MMA Live 1 | May 19, 2011 | 3 | 1:26 | London, Ontario, Canada | Doctor stopped the fight due to a cut that opened on Parisyan. |
| Loss | 19–6 (1) | Dennis Hallman | TKO (punches) | UFC 123 | November 20, 2010 | 1 | 1:47 | Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States | |
| Win | 19–5 (1) | Ben Mortimer | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Impact FC 1 | July 10, 2010 | 2 | 4:18 | Brisbane, Australia | |
| NC | 18–5 (1) | Dong Hyun Kim | No Contest | UFC 94 | January 31, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Original win (Split Decision); changed after Parisyan tests positive for banned painkillers in post-fight drug test. |
| Loss | 18–5 | Thiago Alves | TKO (strikes) | UFC Fight Night 13 | April 2, 2008 | 2 | 0:34 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 18–4 | Ryo Chonan | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 78 | November 17, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 17–4 | Josh Burkman | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 71 | May 26, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 16–4 | Drew Fickett | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night 7 | December 13, 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | San Diego, California, United States | |
| Loss | 15–4 | Diego Sanchez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night 6 | August 17, 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Year |
| Win | 15–3 | Nick Thompson | Submission (strikes) | UFC 59 | April 15, 2006 | 1 | 4:44 | Anaheim, California, United States | |
| Win | 14–3 | Matt Serra | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 53 | June 4, 2005 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 13–3 | Chris Lytle | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 51 | February 5, 2005 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 12–3 | Nick Diaz | Decision (split) | UFC 49 | August 21, 2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–3 | Shonie Carter | Decision (unanimous) | WEC 10 | May 21, 2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Lemoore, California, United States | Won WEC Welterweight Championship |
| Loss | 10–3 | Georges St. Pierre | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 46 | January 31, 2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 10–2 | Dave Strasser | Submission (kimura) | UFC 44 | September 26, 2003 | 1 | 3:52 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | UFC Debut |
| Win | 9–2 | Fernando Vasconcelos | Decision | KOTC 22 | March 23, 2003 | 3 | 5:00 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
| Win | 8–2 | Antonio McKee | Decision | UAGF 3 | February 15, 2003 | N/A | N/A | Hollywood, California, United States | |
| Win | 7–2 | Darrell Smith | Submission | RSF 3 | March 30, 2001 | 1 | 0:59 | Belleville, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 6–2 | Sean Sherk | TKO (corner stoppage) | RSF 2 | January 5, 2001 | 1 | 16:20 | Belleville, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 6–1 | Sean Sherk | Decision | RSF 1 | October 10, 2000 | 1 | 18:00 | Belleville, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Guido Jennings | Submission (choke) | KK 16 | June 7, 1999 | 1 | 6:33 | California, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Justin Bumphus | Submission | ESF | May 15, 1999 | N/A | N/A | Corona, California, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Scott Davis | Submission (armbar) | KK 14 | April 5, 1999 | 1 | 2:16 | Los Angeles, California | |
| Win | 3–0 | Jason Rittgers | Submission (armbar) | KK 14 | April 5, 1999 | 1 | 1:58 | Los Angeles, California | |
| Win | 2–0 | Zach McKinney | Submission (Strikes) | KK 12 | February 1, 1999 | 1 | 0:23 | Los Angeles, California | |
| Win | 1–0 | Brian Warren | Submission (ankle lock) | KK 12 | February 1, 1999 | 1 | 0:44 | Los Angeles, California | MMA Debut |
| Preceded by Shonie Carter |
3rd WEC Welterweight Champion May 21, 2004 – October, 2005 |
Vacant
Parisyan signs with UFC
Title next held by
Mike Pyle |