KaroParisyan.net - About Karo

INTERVIEWS

May 9, 2007 by Mike Chiappetta for NBCSports ar http://www.nbcsports.com/ufc/1486213/detail.html

Karo "The Heat" Parisyan may well be the most underrated and underappreciated fighter in the UFC. With a 16-4 lifetime record and the winner of five of his last six UFC fights, Parisyan is also considered to be one of the most exciting fighters in the organization (his last loss, to Diego Sanchez in August, was considered 2006's Fight of the Year by many MMA outlets).

Parisyan is currently training for his UFC 71 matchup with Josh Burkman, but he took time out of his day for a candid interview in which he discussed the wild story behind the beginning of his MMA career, his thoughts on UFC's stacked welterweight division, and how he always manages to put on the best fight on the card.
Q: Most fans know you have a judo background. How did you get started in that sport?
A: I started doing judo when I was nine. My cousin was training for a while, and he told me he was doing judo and was a yellow belt. He took me to the school, and I started doing it, and my martial arts career started from there.

Parisyan defeated Drew Fickett in his last fight

Q: What about it appealed to you?

A: I was always a rough kid. I loved sports. I don't remember seeing that much judo, but I remember vaguely that I liked it. I started doing it just because my cousin took me to do it. I liked it and kept on doing it.

Q: You said you were a rough kid growing up. Did you get into a lot of fights?

A: Yeah, I got into a lot of fights in school, and I'd beat on my sisters. I guess I had so much adrenaline inside me, so much energy all the time, and I didn't know what to do with it. So whatever was in my path, I had aggression towards it and tried to conquer it.

Q: Did you find you were good at judo from the beginning?

A: Yes. I remember [judo instructor] Gokor Chivichyan saying Karo opened up like a fast flower. I started getting good pretty fast, right off the bat. I guess I was a little bit talented, and a little bit lucky.

Q: How did you segue from judo into full-blown mixed martial arts?

A: I was always active in judo. When I was 14 years old, I was exposed to MMA in Mexico. There were weight categories but no age categories, so I had to fight a 23-year-old [Daniel Lopez] when I was 14. He was the best fighter in Mexico, their pride and joy. When I weighed in, they made me sign some paperwork saying if you get injured or killed, we're not responsible. So I fought him for five rounds and demolished him. I think he was undefeated. He was s Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu expert. And after that, I figured if I could do this well when I'm 14, how good will I be when I'm 23? So I kept on fighting.

Q: That's crazy. What was the 14-year-old Karo thinking while waiting to get in the ring with a grown man?

A: I remember that I asked them to point out who he was before I fought him, and they said if you go to the dressing room, you won't miss him. I got there and there were media cameras and people taking pictures, and he was kicking his leg up and down like an ax. I was like, 'great.' He was a stocky guy. I weighed 140, and he weighed 160. I just figured, oh, well, let's fight. I'm going to put the fight on YouTube.com one of these days.

Q: Had you ever fought someone that old before when you were so young, even in judo?

A: When I was 14, I beat a seventh-degree judo black belt, who was like 38 years old or something. I've always fought against men, older men. I never fought anyone my age, they were like a joke to me. I was always matched up against older guys.

Q: Who brought you to Mexico to fight this grown man?

A: Gokor and (combat sports legend) Gene LeBell, and a bunch of crazy Armenians who went down to fight. When I got there, we didn't ask age or reputation of the opponent. We found out weight, and the guy was in my division, so I said great. My dad was kind of pissed. He was mad at Gokor, saying 'You're going to kill my kid in front of me.'

Q: Wait…Your dad was there?

A: Yes, and he was very mad, because he looked at this 23-year-old with a great reputation, and he was nervous. But I convinced him. I said, we came all the way here to Mexico to fight and I'm not going to run back home like a scared girl. So I fought the guy.

Q: That's some start to your career. Now almost a decade later, you're getting ready to face Josh Burkman, who's won a couple fights in a row and trying to enter that top level of welterweight fighters. What are your impressions of him and what is your game plan going to be against him?

A: My impression is that he's a tough guy and a good athlete. He's good at everything, not great at anything. At the same time, I never have a game plan. With Josh, the fight can go anywhere and I'm comfortable. If it's standing, I'm confident; if it's in a clinch, that's my bread and butter; if it's on the ground, that's my home. I don't really care where the fight goes. I'm just going to go in there in shape, and be ready to unleash myself for three five-minute rounds.

Q: So your game plan is not to have a game plan?

A: Yes. Everybody has a game plan until they get hit. And I don't really want to think, what happens if it doesn't work? Plan B? Plan C? Come on. You fight where the fight goes. You have to be so well-rounded that wherever it goes, you'll be comfortable. If you're standing, you might try to take him down, but if you can't, you have to be able to stand up with him. And if it's on the ground, you better be able to grapple, and ground and pound.
Q: You always seem to have one of the most exciting fights on the card. Do you think it's because of your willingness to adapt to any style whereas some fighters will stick to a plan even if it's not working?
A: My style is very unorthodox. A lot of people say you can't train for Karo's style, because he does stuff you can't expect. However I fight, I make it interesting because I always come for war. The judo throws make it good, too. People like the high throws and brutal ground and pound. I don't try to be exciting, but I guess my style makes me exciting.
Q: Maybe you don't try to be exciting, but it seems as though you like a good brawl.
A: Yeah. Well, anyone can brawl or be strong, but technique is very expensive. It's what people appreciate. I'm more a technician than a brawler. Judo is all technique and leverage. I'm trying to get my boxing to another level, and obviously, I've had my ground game for years. So I have great technique, but when I have to brawl, I'll brawl.
Q: You're in the most stacked division in the UFC. Where would you rank yourself in the welterweight mix?
A: I don't know. Matt Serra and Josh Koscheck moved up high into the rankings with their wins. Ranking myself, I should be in the top 4 or at least, top 3. But you can't rank yourself; you just have to keep winning.
Q: Even though everyone considers you a very exciting fighter, it seems like you don't necessarily get a lot of attention. Why do you think that is, and does it bother you?
A: It bothers me a lot actually. I'm starting to talk, to yell, to get my name out there. The stuff I do, either I'm blessed with it or learned it. But the thing is, the stuff I do, nobody else can do. I think I should get recognition for my unique style. My ranking should go so much higher for my last two fights with Diego Sanchez and Drew Fickett. I think eventually, hopefully, I'll get the recognition and respect I want from everyone. I get a lot of respect from people, fans telling me I'm their favorite fighter, and it makes me feel good, but I'd like to be known worldwide. I may not be the best, but I'm no baloney sandwich either.
Q: You've beaten Matt Serra. How did it feel to see him on The Ultimate Fighter show, then win a title shot when you're probably thinking to yourself, I beat this guy?
A: I can't take anything from Matt. He went on the show, won the show, and I still can't believe that he knocked out Georges St. Pierre. But he did what he did, and I'm speechless. Good for him. I believe that sportsmen and athletes are supposed to have a little bit of luck in their lives. I don't think I have that luck at all. I've never gotten anything easy in fighting. I've always had to spit blood and fight exhausting wars for 15 minutes to win the fight. I guess I don't have that sportsman's luck. Matt Serra might've had the sportsman's luck, and today it's around his waist as a world champ. He can retire and say for the rest of his life, I was a world champion. He won the show, he beat GSP, he's the champ.
Q: What's your feeling on The Ultimate Fighter show in general because the UFC certainly pushes guys that appeared on the show since they've invested promotion time in them while someone like yourself has to battle a little harder for attention?
A: These guys become stars overnight. It's another luck issue. When I was coming up, we didn't have the show. If I had come off of TUF, I'd be a superstar today. But I didn't have that opportunity. I had to beat people to get a shot at the UFC. It's its own breed. They bring in amateurs to become pros, and they really, really take care of those guys. It's the power of TV. It has nothing to do with them liking us or not liking us. It's just the power of TV.
Q: You recently criticized the way the UFC hands out title shots. Do you feel that Matt Hughes should have had a tougher test than Chris Lytle before gaining his rematch?
A: I was supposed to fight Matt Hughes at UFC 68. But the same evening they asked me to fight him, they texted me and said you're not going to fight him, we're going to get him someone else. I think I would have a great chance to beat Matt. I don't think he should even have a title fight right now. The way he was happy that St. Pierre was knocked out? That's not cool. There's nothing about Hughes that I like. I used to like him a while back, but he has nothing to offer anyone. He's a coach on The Ultimate Fighter with Matt Serra, and I still can't believe that fight's happening. I still don't think he deserves a title shot at all. The way he was celebrating when GSP got knocked out was kind of pathetic. He should want to fight St. Pierre, because the way he lost to GSP was a joke. He got literally manhandled.
Q: So you were supposed to fight Hughes at UFC 68?
A: Yes, they called me up in the winter and said in two months, you'll fight him in Ohio. I said great. I talked to [UFC matchmaker] Joe Silva very briefly. I said whatever you guys want. But then, the same night, I got a message saying they were going to match him up with someone else.
Q: If you beat Burkman, would do you see next for you?
A: I have no idea.
Q: When Joe Rogan interviews you after the match, is there anyone you will call out? Will you ask for a title shot?
A: I will ask for a title shot. Definitely.
Q: Would you be willing to face winner of Josh Koscheck vs. GSP for a title shot?
A: If I have to, I will, but why? If I beat Burkman, that's two straight wins and six of my last seven UFC fights. When I got injured and lost my title shot, I had to start all over and work my way up. Now, I'm going to ask for my title shot.
Q: When do you think you'll be wearing the gold? Do you have a set goal?
A: No, sir. I'll take it in its time. And eventually it'll come.
Q: But you would be disappointed if you never got to be the champ?
A: Very, very disappointed.

CLICK HERE TO READ AN ARTICLE FROM BLACK BELT MAGAZINE ABOUT KARO'S JUDO