You all know that old cliché, the one you’ve not only heard a thousand times but also said it as much yourself: good things come to those who wait. Most of the time that crummy shibboleth is nothing more than mere smoke up one’s rear end.
But in the case of welterweight contender Karo Parisyan (Pictures), that sort of drivel might actually be his fate … it might actually come true.
Parisyan is scheduled to face mixed martial arts sensation Diego Sanchez (Pictures) Thursday in the main event of the UFC Fight Night card in Las Vegas, which will be aired live on the popular Spike TV network.
Much more is at stake than just a simple victory. The winner of the bout will be deemed the number-one contender to welterweight monarch Matt Hughes (Pictures)’ title, a position Parisyan covets more than a good night’s sleep.
Parisyan, as most already know, was supposed to lock horns with Hughes last November on the UFC 56 card, but “The Heat” suffered an injury to his quadriceps during training and had to withdraw from the card.
Since then, Parisyan had to fully recover and resume his fighting career at a rung much lower than he had liked. He toppled Nick Thompson (Pictures) on the UFC 59 card and has been patiently awaiting an opportunity to once again be matched with Hughes.
“It was tough, to be honest with you,” Parisyan told Sherdog.com. “It was very frustrating for me to have the fight with Matt Hughes (Pictures) right there and then to get injured in training. It was so frustrating for me because I knew that was a chance of a lifetime that got past me because I got hurt. I had a hard time accepting it at first, but then I realized that everybody has to overcome some sort of obstacles in life and it could have been worse. I then focused on fixing my injury and then starting over, basically. I guess everything happens for a reason because I am even more focused now than before.”
Parisyan knew that in order to become UFC champion, the road ahead would never be easy. All sorts of forks and obstacles could jump out at you at any time. But true champions overcome adversity and Karo realized that.
Now, after due time and much resignation, the Armenian-American is close yet again to a chance of a lifetime.
First he has to get past the highly touted Sanchez.
“I know Diego is a very good fighter,” Parisyan said of his foe. “He’s a good guy, too. He never did anything to me and he seems to be very respectful. I know he is focused and he is a very spiritual person, which is good. I am prepared for him and I know that he isn’t a perfect fighter. I know he has some weakness that I would like to (exploit), but I won’t reveal them to you for obvious reasons. It’ll be a good fight, a fight that will be very tough, but I am confident that I will beat him.”
The fight itself should be a memorable one. It’s arguably the best main event the UFC has scrounged together for their successful Spike shows since Sanchez fought Nick Diaz (Pictures).
Both Karo and Diego are gifted fighters and either can end a battle within mere seconds, usually via some sort of submission. Yet, there’s a chance the outcome will rest upon Parisyan’s judo-infused MMA or Sanchez’ lethal ground-and-pound.
“I am very confident that my style will be better than Diego’s,” Parisyan said. “Like I said before, I know that he has a few weaknesses and my plan is to use them to my advantage and win the fight.”
Throughout a UFC career that has seen Parisyan go 5-1, the Los Angeles-based welterweight has fought primarily on star-studded pay-per-view cards. With the likelihood that millions of viewers would tune in to watch Parisyan and Sanchez duke it out — as opposed to the few hundred thousand who drop coinage for the pay-per-views — Karo is stoked.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to fight live on the Spike TV network,” he gleefully admitted.
“There will be so many more people watching my fight this time, many more than usual for me,” Karo continued. “It’s a big challenge and there is a lot of pressure on not just me but Diego as well. I know that I have to not only win, but I have to look exciting so the fans want to see me. Hopefully I don’t mess up.”
Like they say in MMA: it’s not always if you win but how you look that matters most.
“Oh yes, I understand that thought very much so,” Parisyan said. “For me personally I would much rather prefer not to lose because I don’t like to lose. Who does? So, of course, most important to me, personally, is to just win. But from a business standpoint, I know that I have to look awesome out there. I know that even if I lose a fight but the fans go crazy over my fight that I’ll be back. I understand that so it’s kind of a win-win situation. I think I am exciting fighter and I win, so hopefully Diego and I can put on a great show for the fans and hopefully I can come out on top.”
If he does, Sanchez will have won an elimination bout to name the next challenger to the UFC welterweight crown.
“I know that I am guaranteed a title shot if I beat Diego,” Parisyan said with intensity. “I know that regardless of what happens, as long as I win, that I will be next to fight Matt Hughes (Pictures). Well, maybe it will be Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) because he is fighting Matt next. But all I know is that I will be the No. 1 contender.
“There is so much pressure on me, not only because it’s on Spike in front of millions of fans but also because my destiny lays with this fight. I have waited so long, got injured and I know I can’t blow it.”
Come Thursday night, the MMA world will see if good things truly do come to those who wait.
__________________
Robert dos Remedios, MA, CSCS,
HCC (Hartman-Cosgrove Certified)
Director of Speed, Strength & Conditioning
College of the Canyons, CA http://www.canyons.edu/departments/pe/strength
"NO CHAMPION HAS EVER ACHIEVED HIS OR HER GOAL WITHOUT SHOWING MORE DEDICATION THAN THE NEXT PERSON; MAKING MORE SACRIFICES THAN THE NEXT PERSON; WORKING HARDER, TRAINING, AND CONDITIONING HIM / HERSELF MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON; ENJOYING HIS / HER FINAL GOAL MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON"
Dos, weren't you or Alwyn at one point involved in Karo's strength training?
Or is it one of the past TUF guys I'm thinking of?
Karo's from N. Hollywood so not too far away. I see that he's teaching MMA classes at Bas & Randy's new gym: http://www.legendsmma.com/
And I thought Rickson Gracie's rates were outrageous!
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
Dos, weren't you or Alwyn at one point involved in Karo's strength training?
Or is it one of the past TUF guys I'm thinking of?
Karo's from N. Hollywood so not too far away. I see that he's teaching MMA classes at Bas & Randy's new gym: http://www.legendsmma.com/
And I thought Rickson Gracie's rates were outrageous!
I actually know Lodune Sincaid who was on TUF I....he trained with Gene lebell and also Gokar (along with Karo).
__________________
Robert dos Remedios, MA, CSCS,
HCC (Hartman-Cosgrove Certified)
Director of Speed, Strength & Conditioning
College of the Canyons, CA http://www.canyons.edu/departments/pe/strength
"NO CHAMPION HAS EVER ACHIEVED HIS OR HER GOAL WITHOUT SHOWING MORE DEDICATION THAN THE NEXT PERSON; MAKING MORE SACRIFICES THAN THE NEXT PERSON; WORKING HARDER, TRAINING, AND CONDITIONING HIM / HERSELF MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON; ENJOYING HIS / HER FINAL GOAL MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON"
So Kuri when are you going to start working out at Legends?
I got my lucky lotto ticket right here. I'll have to take the winnings in a lump sum to afford Legends though.
I really like that bit about if you pay the $475/mo VIP rate your guaranteed to train with Randy or Bas ONCE in the first 12 months
Dos, do you know if Lodune is still competing?
I don't remember being impressed by his grappling, but it should be unreal if he's training with Judo Gene & Gokor.
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
and he's a guy who makes every god damn excuse he can think of. hell, he's still making excuses for losing to GSP. and its nice that he used the old "I'm a weakling who's never lifted weights but anyone stronger than me must be on roids" logic to accuse GSP.
I got my lucky lotto ticket right here. I'll have to take the winnings in a lump sum to afford Legends though.
I really like that bit about if you pay the $475/mo VIP rate your guaranteed to train with Randy or Bas ONCE in the first 12 months
Dos, do you know if Lodune is still competing?
I don't remember being impressed by his grappling, but it should be unreal if he's training with Judo Gene & Gokor.
Yeah, I hear that he's actually doing quite well right now. Don't know where he's competing but he is.
__________________
Robert dos Remedios, MA, CSCS,
HCC (Hartman-Cosgrove Certified)
Director of Speed, Strength & Conditioning
College of the Canyons, CA http://www.canyons.edu/departments/pe/strength
"NO CHAMPION HAS EVER ACHIEVED HIS OR HER GOAL WITHOUT SHOWING MORE DEDICATION THAN THE NEXT PERSON; MAKING MORE SACRIFICES THAN THE NEXT PERSON; WORKING HARDER, TRAINING, AND CONDITIONING HIM / HERSELF MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON; ENJOYING HIS / HER FINAL GOAL MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON"
what the crap, the winner of these too bums will be the #1 contender? Fuck when will they give GSP his rematch. I hope Diego wins. I owuld love nothing more for him to do some silent meditation rigth before he gets his country breakfast bodyslam.
what the crap, the winner of these too bums will be the #1 contender? Fuck when will they give GSP his rematch. I hope Diego wins. I owuld love nothing more for him to do some silent meditation rigth before he gets his country breakfast bodyslam.
Gotta give it to dirty Sanchez, he took it to Karo. Good fight though the outcome was less than desirable.
Well, at least we can look forward to Diego getting dismantled ala Leben/Anderson Silva.
Speaking of...why does Leben get brought back every damn show but Silva is on the sidelines? Is he getting a shot at Franklin?
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
Speaking of...why does Leben get brought back every damn show but Silva is on the sidelines? Is he getting a shot at Franklin?
last I heard the rumors seem to be leaning toward this.
on the UFN, Kos finishes-awesome, a great wrestler finally learning some more, now I wanna see Evans finish a fight.
Diego-Karo was a great fight. Diego has one huge gas tank. Karo a had a couple impressive looking throws but managed to do jack shit with em, and more often finding himself on the bottom. the third was maybe a 10-8 round(IMO they don't issue enough of these).
Well I guess all I can say about the Karo and Diego fight is that it was close in my opinion...but I'm just a casual watcher of the sport. I would have given the 1st to Karo and the 3rd to Diego with the 2nd being a toss up.
Would love to see Diego take on GSP or Hughs...I don't think the outcome will be good for Diego.
Karo GASSED! although the 'judo crap' managed a few rag doll, hip tosses. Can't even imagine any of Diego's strong-arm tactics working against a GSP, Penn and ESPECIALLY not a Hughes. Matt would toy with this kid.
I guess i just hate the fact that the kid is SO cocky...just his reaction after the fight was shitty....like 'hey, what did you expect people?!'. At least he said some respectful words after the fight.
__________________
Robert dos Remedios, MA, CSCS,
HCC (Hartman-Cosgrove Certified)
Director of Speed, Strength & Conditioning
College of the Canyons, CA http://www.canyons.edu/departments/pe/strength
"NO CHAMPION HAS EVER ACHIEVED HIS OR HER GOAL WITHOUT SHOWING MORE DEDICATION THAN THE NEXT PERSON; MAKING MORE SACRIFICES THAN THE NEXT PERSON; WORKING HARDER, TRAINING, AND CONDITIONING HIM / HERSELF MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON; ENJOYING HIS / HER FINAL GOAL MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON"
I can't believe the last judge had it 30 to 26 for Diego... makes me wonder what fight he was watching. I had round 1 and 2 go to Karo and the last to Diego.
I think shit is starting to stink when it comes to decent officiating in the UFC.
__________________
Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
I can't believe the last judge had it 30 to 26 for Diego... makes me wonder what fight he was watching. I had round 1 and 2 go to Karo and the last to Diego.
I think shit is starting to stink when it comes to decent officiating in the UFC.
Totally agree with you on this...I thought 30-26...what the hell....
The definetly need to train the refs better for MMA...but I guess over time we will get better refs.
Karo GASSED! although the 'judo crap' managed a few rag doll, hip tosses. Can't even imagine any of Diego's strong-arm tactics working against a GSP, Penn and ESPECIALLY not a Hughes. Matt would toy with this kid.
I guess i just hate the fact that the kid is SO cocky...just his reaction after the fight was shitty....like 'hey, what did you expect people?!'. At least he said some respectful words after the fight.
Karo did gas....but also makes me wonder what Diego is doing to be able to go 3 hard rounds like that because most fights I've seen by the second round both are gassed.
Also agree on the cockiness...part of the reason why I previously didn't like Tito, but since TUF3 I have a total new respect for him.
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Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. -- Sidney J. Harris
o yeah, the 30-26 shit HAS to make you wonder. There is no doubt that the UFC wants to make Diego the 'golden boy' of TUF fame...I think his previous fight against Alessio makes this point. It would look great for the TUF show if they actually had a winner fighting for a title is a realtively short time.
BTW, I don't know if i like the fact that the winners of TUF 4 get an automatic title shot. What do you guys think? i mean c'mon, the winners get to come out and fight either Franklin or Hughes right now??? That's a good way to 'win' and then immediately get crushed, not to mention al the other guys who have been fighting non-can fighters to work their way up the ranks.
__________________
Robert dos Remedios, MA, CSCS,
HCC (Hartman-Cosgrove Certified)
Director of Speed, Strength & Conditioning
College of the Canyons, CA http://www.canyons.edu/departments/pe/strength
"NO CHAMPION HAS EVER ACHIEVED HIS OR HER GOAL WITHOUT SHOWING MORE DEDICATION THAN THE NEXT PERSON; MAKING MORE SACRIFICES THAN THE NEXT PERSON; WORKING HARDER, TRAINING, AND CONDITIONING HIM / HERSELF MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON; ENJOYING HIS / HER FINAL GOAL MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON"
I think that automatic title shot thing is bullshit. Any of those guys would get crushed. There is a reason they all lost and had to go back to smaller shows. I understand it from a business angle but as we've seen in boxing what the money guys think is best and what the fans perceive are usually polar opposites.
And about the ref thing there have been a string of horrendous decisions in the past year hasn't there?
Bonnar got his ass kicked and got the D not long ago, not to mention the bad decisions that even Rogan was calling out on air!
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
That throw hurt Diego....could have ended the fight had he landed a bit more on his head???
__________________
Robert dos Remedios, MA, CSCS,
HCC (Hartman-Cosgrove Certified)
Director of Speed, Strength & Conditioning
College of the Canyons, CA http://www.canyons.edu/departments/pe/strength
"NO CHAMPION HAS EVER ACHIEVED HIS OR HER GOAL WITHOUT SHOWING MORE DEDICATION THAN THE NEXT PERSON; MAKING MORE SACRIFICES THAN THE NEXT PERSON; WORKING HARDER, TRAINING, AND CONDITIONING HIM / HERSELF MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON; ENJOYING HIS / HER FINAL GOAL MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON"
So today in the gym I was talking with a guy that trains MMA fighters about the fight. This guy has trained occassionally at Greg Jackson's (Diego's gym) for 4 years and rolled with Diego many times.
He said Diego isn't the brightest but really studies the game and knows how to use his BJJ/wrestling in MMA (i.e. playing an open guard game). In his opinion Diego could beat Hughes but probably not GSP and definitely not BJ Penn. Interesting.
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
dude you are trying to tell me sanchez is a better wrestler than hughes? "I'll beleive that when me shit turns purple and smells like rainbow sherbert."
Hughes is not invincible - BJ completely schooled him, and he's been KO'd and subbed by other guys as well.
Diego could beat Hughes the same way BJ did: by using his slick jiujitsu game. His takedown defense is good and his striking is at least as good as Matt's IMO.
At Abu Dhabi sub grappling Diego went 20 minutes with Marcelo Garcia, THE top BJJ player in the world. Period.
I'm not championing Sanchez by any means but his style poses problems for Matt. Diego is real good at getting people's back, just like he did to Karo last night, and just like BJ did to Matt.
Likewise GSP & BJ's skill sets poses problems for Sanchez. Guess thats why they say styles make fights right?
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
Off topic, but what is a "dirty Sanchez"? I've heard that term before but don't know what it refers to.
okay...I guess the best way to explain a dirty sanchez is with the help of Biff...
__________________
Robert dos Remedios, MA, CSCS,
HCC (Hartman-Cosgrove Certified)
Director of Speed, Strength & Conditioning
College of the Canyons, CA http://www.canyons.edu/departments/pe/strength
"NO CHAMPION HAS EVER ACHIEVED HIS OR HER GOAL WITHOUT SHOWING MORE DEDICATION THAN THE NEXT PERSON; MAKING MORE SACRIFICES THAN THE NEXT PERSON; WORKING HARDER, TRAINING, AND CONDITIONING HIM / HERSELF MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON; ENJOYING HIS / HER FINAL GOAL MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON"
karo interview.....
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