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How will judo champion Karo Parisyan beat submission artist Dustin Hazelett at UFC 106?
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The six-time Judo Junior National Champion and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu National Champion, Karo "The Heat" Parisyan, is facing submission artist, Dustin "McLovin" Hazelett, at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 106 this Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.
Parisyan has a lot to prove in his mixed martial arts (MMA) bout against Hazelett. His last win against Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 91 in January of this year was overturned and declared a no contest after Parisyan tested positive for several painkillers, including Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone and Oxymorphone. Prior to that he suffered a loss against Thiago "The Pitbull" Alves at UFC Fight Night 13 in April 2008. Needless to say, his professional bouts have been far and few in between in the last two years. Testing positive for pain killers only seemed to accelerate the down-ward spiraling of his MMA career.
But Parisyan is the guy who most effectively infused his judo skills into his MMA fighting arsenal and swiftly submitted all of his first six professional opponents via siubmission in the very first round. His trademark was to disorientate the other guy by throwing him exactly where he wanted him just to finish him off with an armbar, choke or ankle lock. It was beautiful judo with a grand finale of jiu jitsu.
But then something changed. Parisyan seemed to have lost his judo mojo as he did not seem to be in control of the fight anymore as much in later bouts. Maybe the caliber of his opponents improved as he was fighting himself up the food chain and into the UFC. His UFC debut against Dave Strasser at UFC 44 was one last display of his extraordinary judo and jiu jutsu skills when he defeated Strasser via Kimura in round one. Since 2004, however, Parisyan has been relying on the favor of the judges as he won eight of his last fights via decision.
At least his stamina allowed to him last three rounds and it might come in handy against Hazelett, who has won nine of his 16 MMA career fights in the first round. He also lost two in the first round. Nevertheless, Hazelett has only made it to and through the third round one single time. So his stamina has not really been established.
Although both fighters have excellent jiu jitsu skills and the obvious ability to end a bout swiftly via submission, it might be Parisyan's judo throws and stamina that can give him the upper hand in this bout.
Watch how Parisyan uses the judo throw, seoi nage, in an MMA bout:
Karo Parisyan shows how to use seoi nage during an MMA bout
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