UFC 49: Unfinished Business Preview
Nick Diaz vs. Karo .Parisyan
Aug 20, 2004
Nick Diaz vs. Karo Parisyan “The Heat”
DIAZ: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter Nick Diaz is the Stockton Pankration Champion, the WEC Middleweight Champion, the IFC U.S. and Americas Welterweight Champion, a Warriors Quest veteran and an Ultimate Athlete 8-man tournament finalist. He trains with Cesar Gracie, Gil Castillo, David Terrell, Steve Heath and the rest of the Cesar Gracie Team with a 10-2 record in MMA.
Diaz has two losses, one to UFC veteran Jeremy Jackson in the UA
tournament final and the other was a somewhat controversial split
decision loss to Kuniyoshi Hironaka in
Shooto. In 2003 Nick beat Lion’s Den fighter Joe Hurley in the WEC, defended his
IFC title against rival Jeremy Jackson and then defeated
Jackson again in both fighters’ UFC debut. He comes in to UFC 49
off the biggest win of his career, a KO stoppage of UFC poster boy
Robbie Lawler in
April.
PARISYAN: Karo Parisyan is a Pan American Judo Silver medalist and 6-time Judo Junior National Champion, currently ranked 3rd in the world Judo (178lb class) and he is 19-3 record in MMA. The Olympic hopeful, who works as a Hollywood stuntman, is also the KOTC U.S. Welterweight Champion. He trains striking with Benny “The Jet” Urquidez and grappling with “Judo” Gene LeBell and “The Armenian Assassin” Gokor Chivichyan in the Hayastan Wrestling Dojo.
Karo moved from Yerevan, Armenia to Hollywood, California when he was 6 years old and began competing in MMA in Mexico at 14. Early in his career Parisyan suffered back-to-back losses to UFC and Pride veteran Sean Sherk, but those were his only losses until recently. Karo has beaten Antonio McKee in the UAGF, Fernando Vasconcelos in the KOTC and recently won a decision over globe trotter Shonie Carter in the WEC. His UFC record is 1-1, winning in his debut against Dave Strasser in UFC 44 and losing to rising welterweight star Georges St. Pierre at UFC 46.
MY PICK: Diaz. This could be the “fight of the night” for technique lovers as judo faces BJJ. Karo exploded on the scene and became the judo superman but was made human by a less experienced St. Pierre. It is no major jab at Parisyan, everyone losses sometime, but at the same time Diaz is on fire in the division against higher profile opponents. Parisyan is the perfect opponent for Diaz right now. He’s a real submission threat on the mat and has shown some ability standing but it is a bout Nick should win if he is to remain a title threat. The same applies to Parisyan. He comes off a solid win over Carter and had not lost in three years before St. Pierre. However Parisyan has gone the distance in 4 out of 5 and conversely, if there is any pattern his record, Diaz is due for a quick victory. Diaz by TKO in round 1.
DIAZ: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter Nick Diaz is the Stockton Pankration Champion, the WEC Middleweight Champion, the IFC U.S. and Americas Welterweight Champion, a Warriors Quest veteran and an Ultimate Athlete 8-man tournament finalist. He trains with Cesar Gracie, Gil Castillo, David Terrell, Steve Heath and the rest of the Cesar Gracie Team with a 10-2 record in MMA.
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PARISYAN: Karo Parisyan is a Pan American Judo Silver medalist and 6-time Judo Junior National Champion, currently ranked 3rd in the world Judo (178lb class) and he is 19-3 record in MMA. The Olympic hopeful, who works as a Hollywood stuntman, is also the KOTC U.S. Welterweight Champion. He trains striking with Benny “The Jet” Urquidez and grappling with “Judo” Gene LeBell and “The Armenian Assassin” Gokor Chivichyan in the Hayastan Wrestling Dojo.
Karo moved from Yerevan, Armenia to Hollywood, California when he was 6 years old and began competing in MMA in Mexico at 14. Early in his career Parisyan suffered back-to-back losses to UFC and Pride veteran Sean Sherk, but those were his only losses until recently. Karo has beaten Antonio McKee in the UAGF, Fernando Vasconcelos in the KOTC and recently won a decision over globe trotter Shonie Carter in the WEC. His UFC record is 1-1, winning in his debut against Dave Strasser in UFC 44 and losing to rising welterweight star Georges St. Pierre at UFC 46.
MY PICK: Diaz. This could be the “fight of the night” for technique lovers as judo faces BJJ. Karo exploded on the scene and became the judo superman but was made human by a less experienced St. Pierre. It is no major jab at Parisyan, everyone losses sometime, but at the same time Diaz is on fire in the division against higher profile opponents. Parisyan is the perfect opponent for Diaz right now. He’s a real submission threat on the mat and has shown some ability standing but it is a bout Nick should win if he is to remain a title threat. The same applies to Parisyan. He comes off a solid win over Carter and had not lost in three years before St. Pierre. However Parisyan has gone the distance in 4 out of 5 and conversely, if there is any pattern his record, Diaz is due for a quick victory. Diaz by TKO in round 1.
